by Rev. Cindy Senarighi R.N.
Scripture ~ “But by shifting our focus from what we do to what God does, don’t we cancel out all our careful keeping of the rules and ways God commanded? Not at all. What happens, in fact, is that by putting that entire way of life in its proper place, we confirm it.”
Romans 3:31 The Message
Spiritual Focus ~ “The world is full of a lot of fear and a lot of negativity, and a lot of judgment. I just think people need to start shifting into joy and happiness. As corny as it sounds, we need to make a shift.” Ellen DeGeneres
Breath Prayer ~ Inhale, joy ~ Exhale, happiness
Devotion ~ Change is seldom welcomed, even though we know it is inevitable. One reason change is hard is because it calls into question what we THINK we know with what we are experiencing. Change often slams up against our dualistic thinking, our “either/or, black/ white,” narratives. We learned and needed that way of thinking in our growing up years. However, as we mature and have more life experience, we learn that change is not only inevitable but important. Shifting to incorporate non-dualistic thinking helps us to see change through the prism of opportunities. It is comforting to know that while navigating shifts and changes, God doesn’t change. God’s promise of unconditional love and presence guides us.
Physical signs of a shift are all around us. In the Midwest we are shifting into colder weather and early sunsets. Paying attention to our bodies, our thoughts and our spiritual needs during this time is a holistic way to navigate these shifts or changes and see the opportunities they present.
Yoga philosophy teaches that we change slowly over time and it is a natural process. Part of the process is to adjust our asana and meditation practices to accommodate the changes that we notice. When we are able to shift our focus in this way, we open ourselves to experience joy, happiness and God’s promised presence. We confirm and affirm an entire way of life in Christ.
