the path back home

Sometimes the enclosure of a monastery is a vast place, encompassing fields and woods as well as gardens.  I was once a retreatant in such a location, and found myself caught in the meadow during a sudden storm.  One minute I was strolling along under partly cloudy skies, and the next I was hearing cracks of thunder.  As I trudged up a long hill on the edge of a patch of woods, flashes of lightning streaked overhead.  

I think of this and wonder.  What if I strayed to the farthest edges of my enclosure?  What if I became so distracted by things outside God's will that I drifted off to its farthest limits?  What if something just beyond looked so enticing that I wandered right outside? 

I would then be stuck outside the cloister.  Maybe in a snowstorm, cold, on a slippery slope, away from the safety of my monastic home.  Oh why did I ever leave it, why did I drift so far?  

Is there a way back in?

The answer, in a word, is YES.  I know this through experience, and I'd bet that everyone reading this has had touches of mercy as well.  It we look around today and find we've strayed outside the enclosure of God's will, Lent is a good time to take a step back in.  

God has not left us "pathless."  "I am the way, and the truth, and the life," says Jesus (John 14:6). 

It is time to come Home.

For reflection:  
"The whole power of the sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God's grace and joining us with Him in an intimate friendship."  (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1468)

For prayer:  

"Though your sins be like scarlet, they will become white as snow."  (Isaiah 1:18)

"If we acknowledge our sins, He who is just can be trusted to forgive our sins, and cleanse us from every wrong."  (1 John 1:9)

"Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me Your paths.  Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and for You I wait all the day."  (Psalm 25:4-5)

(snow photo on this post © copyright 2012 E. Shuman.  All rights reserved.)  

Text not in quotes © 2012 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
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In the garden

“Arise, north wind!  Come, south wind!  Blow upon my garden, that its perfumes may spread abroad…”  (Song of Songs 4:16)

The cloister garden is a place of refreshment.  Whether the monastery is snuggled amid rolling hills or surrounded by bustling city, its garden is meant to be a peaceful oasis, a place where the inhabitants connect with the Creator of all.  The garden is where we find the first daffodils of spring breaking through frozen ground, the sparkle of raindrops on greenery, the sounds of robins beginning their song.  

If I go into my “inner garden,”what do I find?  We will be looking more at this in weeks ahead, but as I venture forth into the garden today - what do I see?  Fruits of prayer?  The tender buds of increasing virtue?  What has Our Lord been planting in my life… and how am I cooperating? 

For prayer and meditation:

“Mark well, then, the parable of the sower.  The seed along the path is the man who hears the message about God’s reign without understanding it.  The evil one approaches him to steal away what was sown in his mind. The seed that fell on patches of rock is the man who hears the message and at first receives it with joy.  But he has no roots, so he lasts only for a time.  When some setback or persecution involving the message occurs, he soon falters.  What was sown among briers is the man who hears the message, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of money choke it off.  Such a one produces no yield.  But what was sown on good soil is the man who hears the message and takes it in.  He it is who bears a yield of a hundred - or sixty - or thirty-fold.”  (Matthew 13:18-23)

Text not in quotes © 2012 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
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Lingering

My dictionary defines “linger” as “to continue to stay, as though reluctant to leave.”  It is an intriguing definition for one who wishes to be contemplative.  Contemplatives are lingerers, ones who know that the longer we gaze upon something, the more deeply and fully we actually see it.  Contemplatives have learned through experience that the way to know God is to spend time “gazing upon Him” in prayer.

I like to linger beside my favorite window.  I recognize, as I look through the glass, that there are two ways of experiencing a view.  One way is to glance briefly toward it.  Another is to sit down and linger.  After awhile, the lingerer becomes aware of things missed in a once-over viewing.  Sun glancing off a parked car, turning light into sharp darts of color.  The first yellow of a daffodil.  A squirrel running gracefully across the lawn.

I am refreshed when I take time to linger with the beauty of nature.  I’m refreshed and changed when I linger with Jesus.  Having spent time with Him, I find that perhaps I see Him just a bit more clearly.  Whether I am aware of it or not, I’ve gotten to know Him better than I knew Him before the time of lingering.  I may even become aware of gifts - inspirations, insights, comfort, serenity - that I would not have experienced had I not lingered. “I often wait with great graces until towards the end of prayer,” Jesus said to St. Faustina.   Graces wait for those willing to linger….

Today I allowed myself to linger with Psalm 145.  I lingered so long, in fact, that I only got through verse 7 (out of 21 verses).  But that is fine – it’s much more than fine.  The psalm was to be a springboard to prayer, not an “assignment.” 

I began with the words of praise to which the psalm called me.  I pondered the greatness of the Lord.  I noticed the beautiful day outside my window, and thanked Him for the wonders I saw there.  I then was struck by vs. 4:  “Generation after generation praises Your works..”  This led me into prayer for my children, my grandchildren, and all future generations of my family to come, ever.   God sees them, even now.  I prayed that they will praise His works; that they will know, love and serve Him in their time and throughout eternity. 

I could go on and on, but I will spare you.  It is the first of March, and my thoughts are turning toward the cloister garden.  God willing, we’ll meet there next!

Scriptures for prayer:

“I have waited, waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.  He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp; He set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps, and He put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God.” (Psalm 40:2-3)

“Let your belts be fastened around your waists and your lamps be burning ready.  Be like men awaiting their master’s return from a wedding, so that when he arrives and knocks, you will open for him without delay.” (Luke 12:35-36)

And for personal reflection

Am I willing to linger with God for a few extra minutes of prayer today? To talk to Him just a little while longer, praise Him one more time, listen for the gentle inspirations of His Holy Spirit? 

What happens when I do this?

Text not in quotes © 2012 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
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whatever the psalm...

Did anyone else notice?  Yesterday I quoted Psalm 145, but typed it in as 146.  Didn't realize the error until after I'd prayed with Psalm 146 this morning.

Had a fruitful time of prayer, did some scribbling in my prayer journal, and then realized I'd put the wrong psalm number with the quote yesterday. It's not the first time I've made such a "mistake." I did it several times when I was first going through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius some years ago. The most interesting thing about my occasional "numerical confusion" is that God tends to work with me in the midst of it.

If my intention is to talk with God, He is always ready to engage in conversation. A good fruit of this is that I can share with you what happened as I prayed with Psalm 146 - with no concern that my own reflections will influence what may happen with you if you're praying with Psalm 145!

So:  here's a brief rundown from my personal journal-jottings.  I share these, this one time, to give another example of how this usually works for me.  I normally pray with the Scripture, then make quick notations of where I felt I was led in prayer.  This way I can stick with the prayer without distraction, while keeping track of how things are going.  I can go back later to my "jottings," and sometimes I see patterns emerging.

I began Psalm 146 by praying the first few lines, which were of praise.  Then I was struck by "put not your trust in princes, in man, in whom there is no salvation." (vs. 3).  Princes. Hmm.  I thought of government leaders, and I prayed for ones I could think of.  I prayed for our country's upcoming presidential election, and for God's will to prevail; I prayed for the primaries going on right now.  I prayed for leaders of countries throughout the world.  Then I felt God gently letting me know that I am to put my trust entirely in Him, always, for He will bring good out of earthly situations, whatever they may be.  I thought of Romans 8:28  "God makes ALL things work together for good for those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." The next lines were confirming of this sense, and again led me into prayers of praise and thanksgiving. My prayer moved back and forth, alternating between thanksgiving and petition, praise and intercession.  I generally end with praise of God.

I asked for grace to go into my day with one ear pressed to the keyhole. Tomorrow or even later today, I will be praying with Psalm 145!

Suggested scripture for prayer and reflection: 

"We are truly His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to lead the life of good deeds which God prepared for us in advance."  (Ephesians 2:10) (umm...I THINK..) 

Psalm 145  

Text not in quotes © 2012 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
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(Waterhouse painting on this post is public domain)

Lectio and Keyholes

"When it’s God Who is speaking.. the proper way to behave is to imitate someone who has an irresistible curiosity and who listens at keyholes.  You must listen to everything God says at the keyhole of your heart."  (St. John Vianney)

Lectio Divina is so central to monastic life that I’ve hesitated to write about it, for I am terribly aware of my inadequacies to explain.  But interestingly enough, Lectio itself is not about explanation.  It’s not about study, not about intellectual speculation.  Lectio is about listening and noticing and hearing and responding.  Lectio is about love. 

Lectio Divina is reading of Sacred Scripture, but with a specific purpose.  That purpose is not to gain information, but to interact personally with God.  Leaving further defining for future days, now I prefer to simply illustrate how this operates in my own life.  I’ll share memories and journal jottings from a time when I prayed with Psalm 63….

Opening with a prayer that God would lead me, I began to read.  I spoke the first words directly to Our Lord:  “God, you are my God whom I seek.”  My practice is to read, slowly and prayerfully, until something particular grabs me.  I will not copy every word here, but soon I was echoing words of the psalm, that my lips would glorify Him.  The next verse (5) had me telling God I would bless Him as long as I live.  I prayed for the grace to do just that:  for the grace to praise Him throughout that day and throughout my life… 

That’s when I felt He “spoke” something to me.  This was not in words... it was simply a gentle sense of awareness that to bless Him as long as I live means that ... wow!!! ... I can bless Him forever!  Jesus has come and opened to me the doors of eternal life, so I can praise Him forever!  I went on to tell Him that this was the best thing I could imagine about eternal life. 

I went on, awhile later, into prayer of intercession for several people who came to mind, asking that they be given grace to seek God and to bless Him forever.

The practice of praying with Scripture is central to monastic life; it is central to allowing God to lead His people to the graces of contemplative prayer.  It is not just for those in monasteries; it is also for you and for me.  

I lean in closely to listen....

For prayer and meditation:

“Every day will I bless You, and I will praise Your Name forever and ever.  Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.  Generation after generation praises Your works and proclaims Your might.”  (Psalm 146:2-4)

All of Psalm 146

Text not in quotes © 2012 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
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