Skip to main content

Solitude - Enduring yourself

From Peter Yau,

 Like most people growing up in the US, the practice of Solitude is a rare concept. I grew up in Hong Kong, one of the world’s most densely populated island in SE Asia (7.4 million people in 400 sq. miles). Everywhere you go, there is a crowd, walking in a typical street pretty much takes no efforts on your own, you are bumped and pushed by others. In order to find sanity and your own space, people learn to focus their attention to one selves, rather than on others.
Today’s meditation is on enduring ourselves, how we find quietness in the midst of distractions and craziness. 
The following is what I do:
Carve out a time and place for solitude. Find a place where you can be alone, or away from distractions. You can turn away from the crowd to find a moment of quietness. Avoid loud music, conversations and taking phone calls. Start bringing your attention to God, His Creation, His Majesty, His Works, giving praise and gratitude to God. Once you have quieted down, focus on breathing regularly, slowly and deliberately to reset your mind and body. Do not allow your mind to wander or fall asleep. Start with prayers of praises and confession, transition to areas that you want to dialogue with God. Do not be obsessed with a long shopping list of requests. Continue with slow and regular breathing, if time allows you to have an extra moment of silence, enjoy the experience, and otherwise transition yourself out.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pondering the journey

Betty Hollister writes Judi assured me this week would be easier—more about a journey, maybe even something as simple as a walk in nature.  Ok.  Maybe. I admitted to her that even though I didn’t “like” the week of “Solitude and Struggle,” it did make me think, and I liked that.  And, the thinking, of course, didn’t stop this week.   Monday’s lesson reminded us how Jesus sought solitude by walking away from the crowds after periods of “greatest exertion or emotional distress. ”  That made complete sense.  If Jesus, fully human, but also fully divine, needed time alone to talk to His father and renew his strength to heal the next in line or preach to the next crowd that made complete sense.  Even Tuesday’s suggestions about labyrinth walks to “get lost in God’s creation” made sense to me.  Then, I read about the “blue-gray-green monks” who turned that color due to hardship and fasting and Mary of Egypt who wandered for decades alone in th...
2 comments
Read more

Julian of Norwich

From Rachel Matthews: Today we read about Julian of Norwich, one of my favorite anchoresses. Tuesdays have been wonderful reflection points but today I find myself with not much to say. Things that I have put off since we moved here are looming over me. I turned down a wonderful gift of hospitality last night to be with the Monday Munchers. That made me sad but I did get some stuff done I really need to do. Mornings that are stressful are exactly when I am most grateful for the discipline that nudges me to sit and think and pray just for 10 minutes. The rush of life needs Julians who will listen and offer a prayer and word of guidance. I need Julian of Norwich to say to me, "All will be well, all manner of things will be well." She lived it. What strikes me most this morning about her is that she was there at a calling of God but she was not there alone. There were political structures that approved and encouraged and paid for her well being in that little house, the chur...
2 comments
Read more

Holy Saturday

From Rachel Matthews - Today I have been chopping, measuring, mixing, cooking, mixing some more, kneading, baking, waiting, waiting, tasting, arranging, cleaning, preparing.....and preparing....for guests. It is what you do at a funeral. Either you are preparing to serve and comfort the bereaved or, as the bereaved, you are preparing to receive the community, the family, the loved ones to walk with you to the grave and back again. Holy Saturday feels like the days before a funeral. Suspended between death and life, you just carry on. You work, as usual, but not. That's what the women who loved the Rabbi were doing: preparing the spices, arranging the body (Christ's body), wrapping, loving and weeping, and waiting, and waiting and preparing....for guests. I am giddy thinking about the surprise that awaited them - the Guest!! And, I am giddy waiting for our guests to come to our home. My boys won't be here, so there is grief. I miss them so much. But, the new Amer...
Post a Comment
Read more