Day 41 Meditating on the Word
Recovering Christian practices of contemplation
Today we turn our focus to Christian contemplation practices. Which practice did you choose and what was the experience like?
Resources
Dr. Chanequa “Centering Prayer on the Fruits of the Spirit” (10min; available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Insight Timer, & Spotify)
Dr. Chanequa “Lectio Divina with the Great Commandment” (15min; available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Insight Timer, & Spotify)
Dr. Chanequa “Morning Prayer Ritual” (15min; available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Insight Timer, & Spotify)
One of my contemplative practices including reading a quote that spoke to me, and focusing in on what is it saying to me. I would like to offer this one for us today as I reflect on contemplation. “As often happens on the spiritual journey, we have arrived at the heart of a paradox: each time a door closes, the rest of the world opens up. All we need to do is stop pounding on the door that just closed, turn around-which puts the door behind us-and welcome the largeness of life that now lies open to our souls. The door that closed kept its from entering a room, but what now lies before its is the rest of reality.”
― Parker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation
I'm learning through this self-care journey to shut the door on my past ways of taking care of everything and everybody else, and instead walk in the doors of quietness for myself!!
I used the Centering Prayer guided meditation from Dr. Chanequa. It was so healing and helpful. I have struggled with engaging with the Bible in the last few years, partly because when I read it I mostly hear echos of the “try harder, you’re a terrible person and will never be enough” lies I was taught when I was growing up. But this practice helped me connect with God’s love and how it is expressed in the Bible.