Spiritual Practices ~ 2020
Scripture ~ But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
Breath Prayer ~ Inhale – Light flows in me, Exhale – Light flows from me
Devotion ~ Lament, let go, (again and again), and enter God’s flow. “Flow” as a verb can mean to be immersed in a continually changing situation; to move with, into or come alongside an activity. Discerning what activity is healthy and healing, what activity is worthy of “going with the flow”, what activity is God’s flow, is a combination of Jesus’ wisdom and the Holy Breath leading. Jesus’ teachings are clear: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. The Holy Breath integrates those teachings into our daily experiences to guide our discernment. We would do well to pay attention! When we wake up to this holy movement, we slip into God’s flow, a stream of love.
Discerning conversations are happening now around entering back into community after the COVID19 “stay safe, stay home” pause. This pause has had us immersed in a continually changing situation. One conversation asks, “Who are you serving, self or your neighbor?” Another asks, “What are you going to leave behind as you enter a new flow? What new thing have you learned in quarantine that you will take with you as life assumes a new flow? What is in your “container” or “jar of clay?”
When one’s “normal” is cracked wide open to expose uncertainty, when we let go of the ideal of normal, we can start to see a light that shines through the cracks of uncertainty and a new flow of God activity emerges. Two artistic expressions come to mind for us to contemplate as we discern what it means to be cracked wide open and to allow the light and love of God to flow in us. One is a now famous sculpture by Paige Bradley called, “Expansion.” A woman sits in lotus position with light filling in all the cracks of the clay sculpture. (See a photo and blog entry on Expansion here.) Another contemplative source as you muse on your own reentry flow are lyrics from Leonard Cohen’s song “Anthem.” The entire song is a lot to unpack, so the poetic verses for today’s devotion are just an excerpt from the song.
“Anthem” by Leonard Cohen
The birds they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don’t dwell on what
Has passed away
Or what is yet to be
Yeah the wars they will
Be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
Bought and sold
And bought again
The dove is never free
Ring the bells (ring the bells) that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That’s how the light gets in
(Watch Leonard Cohen perform “Anthem” here. 8 minutes)
