Words that Breathe

I am not a writer, so it’s funny to me that I feel drawn to write each day. I was not a reader of books, so I can’t explain how I became interested in reading again. Books on spirituality spoke to me and I couldn’t get enough. The first books that attracted me are New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton and When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd. The list grew and grew after that.

I practice a daily discipline called lectio divina, or divine reading. When reading scripture or a sacred text, I listen attentively to God’s voice through the words. The word or phrase that speaks to me becomes my meditation for the day. When I open my heart and feel the Spirit breathing love into the words I read, I am empowered to reflect Jesus’ love into the world.