Bread for the Journey

I had a long conversation today with someone I’d previously met but hardly knew. Our conversation then moved to an event that occurred twelve years ago; a convention which we discovered we had both attended. As we talked it became clear that he and I had participated in the same class; a workshop inviting us to experience various forms of contemplative prayer. I told him how significant that time was in my faith journey. In fact my exposure to these new ways of praying caused me to learn more about spirituality and led me to a deeper relationship with God.

I then learned that the workshop leader had taken a break from publishing books in order to focus on a new way of teaching. This “new way” is just what I needed at that time in my life. Now that I’ve become reacquainted with his name, I look forward to sharing my story with this leader who has no idea how his workshop planted seeds that were scattered and sown across the country. No, I don’t have to tell him my story. If I don’t, there is no loss. But if I do, maybe this is a way I can participate in being God’s messenger. Maybe my story will light a spark for him; helping him to realize that yes, yes, what he taught so many years ago was not for naught. It reached the corners of my soul, allowing openness for the Spirit to enter and be heard. My eyes were opened, and over the years I have learned how to truly live and love.

https://breadforthejourney.blog/2018/01/11/pathway-to-the-numinous/

This week I have listened to many stories, and I’ve shared many stories. At the end of the day, before turning out lights in the prayer room, I have noticed pebbles and stones shifting. Some are stacked on each other, some on crosses, and others moved to other parts of the room. What stories do these stones share? If I listen I can hear their longing, their laments and their joy. If I listen, I can follow their path. If I listen, they can help me understand.

It is our stories. Our sacred, chaotic, blessed stories; our awe-drenched, doubting, joyous stories. It is our stories that are the stones of God’s language on the rocky, jagged, radiant path of life. It is the holy listener who helps arrange these stones into cairns which point the way to God’s desire for our lives and God’s desire for every moment. The cairns, if patiently balanced, uneven though they be, if patiently balanced, can point the way to heaven. Heaven, after all, is making God-serving meaning of our stories on this rocky, jagged, radiant path of life. ~ Jennifer Hoffman

A friend just shared these super-cool photos (taken by Mary Rasp) of our labyrinth viewed from their hotel room! Before closing up the labyrinth room tonight, I took some time to read the reflections written by people of all ages. Wow! So many different experiences. But what really touched me were the reflections written in languages I couldn’t read. I looked at the beauty of their foreign script and could feel what they expressed through words I didn’t understand. The mystery of their words is like the mystery of God touching each of us in ways we will never know. But in ways we can feel by our faith. May we all feel God’s presence as the long days continue on.

How wonderful to hear our own member, Nancy Reycraft, sharing her beautiful flute music during her volunteer shift at the labyrinth. The acoustics were phenomenal.

Every morning a group of us gather in the prayer room to awaken our bodies and minds through yoga. When I pray in a different stance I awaken a new part of me that was hidden. When I pay attention, my body alerts me to areas in need of healing for myself and for others. By recognizing these areas, I am focused, strengthened, and ready to face the day. My breath prayer today was “be strong, have courage.”

My day began with an unexpected series of events. I’ll share one: the labyrinth socks weren’t dry. A very kind person washed them overnight, but the hotel dryer must not have worked since they were still wet hours later. They were handed to me along with another kind person’s hairdryer borrowed from her hotel room. I decided I didn’t want to spend the morning drying socks with a hairdryer, so I promptly headed outside to line them up in an obscure place along the convention center sidewalk. Theo, the door greeter, was another very kind soul. Watching me carefully placing socks, he came outside and offered the use of his truck rack to serve as a dryer. How wonderful! Not only did the hot air dry them in no time, but it brought a few chuckles from people heading to meetings.

Labyrinth socks or shoe covers protect the canvas from oils and dirt. Many visitors have been walking the labyrinth this week as a tool for prayer and to help in discerning tough decisions. The discussions and meetings are likely to get more intense throughout the week. When my life is full and doesn’t feel quite balanced, I try to allow time for prayer; even walking a labyrinth. But I am especially grateful for times of unexpected humor.

A poster, designed by Adam Walker Cleaveland, is in the prayer room. It was created to reflect our commissioned hymn, and it gains more and more bits of color each day. I love that it truly is “gathering friends and strangers in” to add their own pieces of color. I wonder what pieces of prayer will show up tomorrow.

I introduced some out of town friends to the Cathedral Basilica today. Although I have visited this space many times, I always notice something different in the mosaics. Today the deer drinking from streams drew my attention. As I sat in a pew, refreshed by cool air and the chance to sit amidst a busy time, I closed my eyes and listened to all of the other visitors walking in silence around the large church. I thought of how many different directions our lives take us and how we all thirst in different ways. How wonderful we have spaces like this to refresh us with living water.

Today we finished creating our prayer room for General Assembly. A peaceful place full of visual art, it takes on a different look when the lights sparkle and candles are lit. We had to be creative since nothing could be hung on ceiling or walls, so the baptismal font creates art with water and light. Submersible lights allow the water to reflect through the bubbler, creating dancing shadows on the ceiling. The glow of candles creates a sense of mystery. Come visit and see the world in a new way.

Einstein’s realization that light (which is color) is the quintessence of the universe paralleled the apotheosis [i.e., glorification or divinization] of light by the artists. Before Einstein made his discovery, Claude Monet announced that “the real subject of every painting is light.” Echoing this sentiment, Einstein later commented, “For the rest of my life I want to reflect on what light is.” ~ Leonard Shlain

Today I invite you to pay attention to light—its colors and the wonderful shadows it casts—and see the world in a new way. ~ Richard Rohr

Light dawns on a weary world. ~ Mary Louise Bringle

Today was a lloooooooonnnnnnggggggggg day setting up for our large gathering of Presbyterians at America’s Center, and the fun begins tomorrow! Well, it actually started today, and I’m not being sarcastic. Even though I was not 100% in my game, I loved the opportunity to set up a prayer room so thousands have a chance to listen for God’s voice during a week that will be chaotic and full of meetings, business, many people, and so much noise. There will be wonderful opportunities to gather with others in ministry, celebration, worship, and praise. And don’t miss the hand-cut banner, hand sewn stoles, and hand-pieced table covers that look like beautiful rivers flowing together. I hope you will also visit room 127 (Prayer Room) and room 200 (labyrinth) where other artistic surprises await! Here in St. Louis, near the confluence of our rivers, many gather as one body of faithful people eager to do the work of God.

The following original fourth stanza of Shall We Gather at the River is often omitted:

At the smiling of the river, Mirror of the Saviour’s face, Saints, whom death will never sever, Lift their songs of saving grace…..Yes, we’ll gather at the river, the beautiful , the beautiful river; gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God. ~Robert Lowry

When I notice someone who is using their unique gifts and true to who they are, they seem to do it so easily and with an indescribable fullness of joy. The spark they create can light up the world. The artist for our prayer room door discovered her artistic gift later in life. This week at General Assembly, her true self will shine for the world to receive.

Discovering your unique gift to bring to your community is your greatest opportunity and challenge. The offering of that gift—your true self—is the most you can do to love and serve the world. And it is all the world needs.  —Bill Plotkin