Friday, March 9, 2018

Journal Notes

I have kept journals for decades and have most of them still.  They are collected in the basement in a big box, in shelves in a closet and the most recent ones in a corner of the prayer room.  Not all of them are finished - sometimes I start and after a couple of weeks stop and then never go back to it.
And when I return to journal writing, I need to buy a new one.

Yesterday I finished a journal and started a new one.  I spent some time perusing the book which is more than just my own morning musings.  I have been taking a "women writing for a change class" and there are "fast writes from that" and also have been to some workshops and a class on Diamond Heart and there are notes from that.  I also recorded thoughts from readings about supervising spiritual directors. It is generally a record of what has been going on and seemed important to me for the last three months.

So, I thought I write here twelve of  the key quotes and thoughts before I relegate this journal to a box.
1. "Prayer is not gritting your teeth, but falling in love."

2. I reflected on "hyper awareness."  I enjoy watching "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" by Jerry Seinfeld and Sarah Jessica Parker mentioned to him that she was like him - hyper aware.  That is, a life of noticing the little things and for Jerry it is about finding the humor, the joke, the bit in what is going on in daily life.  My reflection is that as people who take seriously the spiritual journey - our hyper awareness ( as opposed to unconsciousness) is about seeing the signs of God's activity.  It makes life much more interesting and alive.

3. I have been carrying a wrapper from a piece of Dove Chocolate which says "Be proud of your age."  I felt like it was a divine message as that number keeps getting bigger. (part of my hyper awareness)

4. Quote from Diamond Heart - "You are either filing a hole or tolerating a hole"  And the invitation is to inquire about and explore the hole.

5. Quote from Diamond Heart - "Essense is the elixer of enlightenment, the golden thread in everything"

6. Quote from Diamond Heart - With holes - you either experience them or act from its deficiency.

7. My own reflection - when Jesus was in the wilderness, it was a time of exploration of hole.

8. Random quote "you are alive today because the universe wants you to be alive"

9. The journey - seeing beyond the surface to the depth of being

10. In spiritual direction (and in life) - those who are coming to us are not problems to be solved but mysteries to be plumbed.

11. Responsibe listening is "a long loving look at the real."

12. Most dissastisfaction comes from not being ourselves.
Thomas Merton: "How much false self are you willing to shed to get to your true self?"

I will end this post with a poem I really like that somehow speaks to this time in my life



"The Way It Is."
There's a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn't change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can't get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time's unfolding.
You don't ever let go of the thread.
William Stafford



Thursday, March 8, 2018

The Inner Journey

This inner journey is one that  I undertake in fits and starts
   or beginnings and beginning again
      and then stopping
      resisting
      ignoring the voice
      getting distracted
      numbing
      avoiding


And so today is a new start - a fresh start - again
                    again
                                again

This inner journey requires devotion
    that is,  devoted time to waiting and emptying by
       sitting
          listening
              writing
                 reading
                    praying
                         living       mindfully, awake, aware

This inner journey is helped by friends who companion
    and care
         for me
              and for the journey
Friends who model and share 
    their insights and discoveries
       and confusion and lostness
           and  love and loyalty

This inner journey seems vague and ephemeral at times

And yet as I allow myself time for reflection
     in   solitude
            with   study
               enjoying   art and beauty
                   giving   service
                        supported  by  community

Something does start to shift
     there is a change in my body as I begin to let go
     there is a change in my spirit as I become more patient and kind
     there is a change in my visage as the peace comes

There is a slowing down, a deep breathing, a far and close seeing  that emerge

And I begin to see and savor the wonder and mystery of life,  love and even me.

The inner journey brings  words that resonate within me:
      peace         silence          hidden            treasure             grace

Today as I sit with God at the beginning of the day, I hear a voice saying:
                                  "Stay here              Let me love you"