By Pastor Cindy Senarighi R.N.
Scripture ~ So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the God of Light. James 1: 17 The Message
Spiritual Focus ~ “Sometimes we may be open but not have much room to receive, due to the inner clutter that junks up and crowds our mind and heart. This clutter claims a lot of mental and emotional space and keeps us from receiving the good things we need. Just as our bodies breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide, so our spirits need to take in what is life-giving and empty out what is not helpful for us.”
–Joyce Rupp, Catholic writer, retreat leader and conference speaker
Breath Prayer ~ Inhale – every breath, Exhale – a new beginning
Devotion ~ It is the function and purpose of news programs to report current events and to keep us informed. However, this can be difficult, especially when the news is hard to hear. More and more, we hear warnings or disclaimers preceding reports that “may contain violence or disturbing content.” Sometimes difficult or disturbing news clutters our minds so much that we can’t think straight. It often takes up space that we need to process what we hear in order to live out our lives. Recently news programs have sought to counter challenging news reports by concluding the program with a positive, uplifting story, one that provides a boost to remind us of the good that is all around us. We need to hear the good news that we may not be aware of, stories we take for granted, stories that renew our faith in humanity. Just hearing one or two stories of the good in the world can change our whole perspective and provide us with life-giving space that we all need to breathe.
This fall we begin a new devotional series that looks at the good gifts we receive at the intersection of faith and yoga. For many, the first gift of yoga is that it opens us to the idea and experience of something greater than self, to God of many names. The philosophy of yoga reinforces the foundations of faith. The technology of movement and breath foster a sense of calm alertness and work together to diminish the mind chatter. By releasing from our minds that which no longer serves us, space opens up to a new beginning and we can receive God’s good gifts like rivers of cascading light, a nurtured faith, and the holy breath. Being open and receptive to the gift of light from God is at the intersection of faith and yoga.
