Goodbye for now
Friends, I have decided to silence my Everyday Mystic blog for the time being. I am in the middle of a spiritual retreat in everyday life following the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. I have committed an hour a day to prayer, meditation, study and journaling for the duration of this retreat, or until the end of May, 2010. In addition to taking up a significant amount of my time every day, I find that the retreat is taking me on an interior journey that is amazing, marvelous and, at times, difficult. And, above all, it is a private journey that I no longer feel comfortable sharing in this public forum. Therefore, I have decided to take an extended sabbatical on this blog, at least until June, 2010, when I will complete the retreat in everyday life.
I’d like to leave you with one exercise from the retreat that I have found most tender and helpful.
Every morning, for about five minutes, sit still and contemplate how Source beholds you. Source or God is like an unconditionally loving parent or grandparent, who extends to you abundant love, acceptance and forgiveness. There is nothing you need do or say or achieve to deserve this love; there is nothing you can do to lose it. This abiding love has surrounded you since the inception of your soul, when God created you.
Listen to what Source has to say to you: “You are our blessed daughter or son, in whom we are well pleased. We love you whatever you do - we love you unconditionally - so you can cease your striving and rest in our embrace. We grieve for you when you choose to turn your face away from love, and rejoice when you return to us. Know that we are always here, ready to enfold you in the light of our love.”
This practice, done daily, will change your life, as it has mine. You will look in the mirror and see a different person staring back at you. You will come to love yourself completely, unabashedly and lavishly, as Source loves you. What greater gift - the gift of self-love - can you give to yourself and to the world? For, if you cannot fully love yourself, you haven’t a prayer of fully loving others.
Blessings to you as you travel on this sacred and wonderful journey called life.
Add A Comment