The Scripture ~ “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
The Spiritual Focus ~ “Closer is he than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet.”
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Breath Prayer ~ Be Present
The Devotion ~ While the church world is celebrating the 12 days of Christmas and the discovery of the Christ Child by the Magi, the secular world has for the most part moved on. Tearing down the Christmas tree, cleaning house, physically and metaphorically, and setting new goals for the new year. Setting goals has become part of a New Year tradition for many. Our intentions are good but one wonders if realized goals would be more available to us if the intentions we set were more mindfully considered, an intention set with mindful attention. Mindfulness is a popular buzzword. Mindfulness means remembering to be present, an intention is setting a goal and attention is focus. In short, be present, be intentional, be focused, all aspects of a faithful yoga practice. The story of the Magi is a beautiful example of mindful attention that ends in a revelation of divine presence.
We really don’t know much about the Magi beyond the narratives created around them in our hymns and our Christmas traditions. We do know they were astrologers and they were on a mission, an intention to find the new born King. They were focused, following what was known to them as the Star of the East. The Magi would have believed the star to be a guide to spiritual truth as they journeyed, searching for something greater then self. Finding the baby in the manger brought them into the divine presence, as divine witnesses they were born anew, as close to God as the baby’s breath. An intention to find the One, attention/focus on the guiding star that pointed to the object of their search, the Presence of God with us Emmanuel.
The practice of yoga is a practice of mindful attention. A practice that strengthens body mind and spirit through mindful attention. Be present, be focused and be intentional….expect an encounter with the Divine that is closer than breath and near than hands and feet…
