Caught by Love: January 14 - 20

In the cartoons, enlightenment is depicted as climbing up a mountain and meeting the guru sitting at the top, who has the answers to life's questions.  What if it is just the opposite?  What if it is more a leap of faith?  What if it is really more like falling into the unknown, trusting to be caught by Love?

When I sit in silence in meditation, it is never the same. Some mornings I barely stay awake. Most mornings I am distracted by thoughts and worries. But every now and then, I lose myself. I can’t tell you how it happens, but for a brief moment I am held by something bigger than myself. Sometimes I sense it is the Earth, sometimes it is the love of family and friends, and sometimes it is Divine Presence.

Meditation is an act of faith. If I am quiet enough, I hear the whispers of my heart. Quite often the me who sits down at the start of meditation is different than the one who gets up at the end. Living is a risky business.

Practice

Settle into silence. Be grounded and centered. Listen to the body. Pay attention to the breath. Wait long enough for the constant chatter of the mind to calm down. Or try to ignore it as you would a mosquito. Sink below the surface to the deeper places of the heart. The quieter you get, the more you hear. Listen to the questions and the intuitions that arise. Wait patiently. Sometimes answers come without words. Visit this inner sanctuary often, until it becomes as familiar as your own breath. Honor yourself for sitting in stillness as you would with a close friend. Practice again and again.