We are reminded today on this Feast of St. Martha, to take rest, to contemplate the Lord. Even those whose work for the Lord is in activity, must take time to receive from the Lord that which sustains, builds, and replenishes body, mind, heart and spirit.
Nothing is worn out. Not only does the physical manual labor in the heat weary the body, but there is night work to consider. And night work is that which the Lord brings and desires, and although it is at an entirely different level, there is effort involved. In the morning, there may be a need for taking rest from what has transpired.
Nothing is reminded of what it was told many years ago, so into its file to retrieve the message.
"Patience, my dear. Yes, you are learning, but it is very important for you to take one flower at a time and allow one leaf to drift softly and soundlessly to the ground. Each petal, each leaf, one by one, will be handed unto you. Piece by piece. And that, too, means 'p-e-a-c-e.'
"Be at peace with yourself. Take the time to seek inner peace. And this can happen as you create in your mind the space necessary to love. You may rest in the knowledge, you may rest in creativity.
"But of course, you know that when you meditate as you are now, the pain is literally flown away on the wings of a dove. A beautiful, white dove lifts the pain off you as if it were carrying an olive branch, the symbol of peace flying up and onward and out into a beautiful sparkling blue sky.
"The color of blue that links the spirit of God to the spirit of earth. The intense white of the Christ to the deep brown and purple of the earth Christ. A beautiful and peaceful sight this is. And as frequently, yes, as often as you wish to meditate, you may find that inner peace, and indeed relief from your physical pain.
"But as often as that happens, yea, you must seek the linkage in the blue sky, the earthly linkage between the white intensity and the deep purple of all spiritual knowledge, grounded on the brown of the soil, of the earth that you live on. And looking upon these colors can be earthly reminders of this beautiful peace."
Nothing was reminded in confession this morning that even with night work, one must draw apart to pray. Active work, yes, but also the work of the spiritual realm requires rest, much as the disciples became weary--and as Jesus, too, had to take time apart. He felt the power depart from Him when the woman touched the hem of his garment.
To absorb that which the Lord desires to replenish in our beings: this requires a certain obedience of discernment, of listening carefully each moment to what He wills. Is it to shovel and spread mulch--the brown of the earth? Is it to lie on a sofa and look out the window, listen to the birds, see what the outer eyes can view and the inner eye perceive? To breathe deeply of the morning air, to remain patiently still to feel every nuance of bodily pain and thank God for life and how He is utilizing all of one's beingness, in nothingness, to His glory and Divine will?
The confessor said we know what He desires, what is the better part, by the peace that comes.
And so that comes softly as gentle, silent, sensations...piece by piece, like petals falling one by one or in a gently flutter in the breeze.
Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ of Heaven and earth and all souls!
No comments:
Post a Comment