YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN KATHRYN PILE FOR CENTERING MEDITATION THURSDAY 5PM 14 September 2021
Dear Meditators
Last week we started a new series of Meditations on ‘Aspects of the Heart,’ from a book of that title by Joan Chittister. Joan is a Benedictine sister, a bold voice, internationally known author and lecturer, a leader in organisations for contemporary spirituality, and is currently co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.
- In her introduction Joan quotes Luke 6:45…A good person produces good from the treasure of the heart, and says, that everything we do in life, goes into the treasury of the heart. The ideas with which we fill our hearts determine the way we live our lives. Those are the things we draw on in those moments when we need to reach down deep inside ourselves for character, courage, endurance and hope. That the heart is an amalgam of magnets, all pulling in different directions…Goodness is the ability to choose one direction over another when it counts…and when does it count? When someone else’s life will suffer if we do not muster the courage to make the right choice in this situation at this time.
Over this series we will look at three aspects (of the 50) that Joan provides:
Last week, ‘A Heart for Nature,’ this week, A Connected Heart,’ followed by ‘A Compassionate Heart.’
- Joan quotes St Therese of Lisieux. ‘Each small task of everyday life is part of the total harmony of the universe.’ She then says there is no such thing as an isolated act. It isn’t true that nothing I do matters, that I am powerless, that I have nothing to do with the big things in life. Without the little things, the big things fail – like marriage, world peace and the eco system.
- Harmony is not a matter of refusing to participate and so refusing to do our part in the world. It is a matter of doing everything we can to make the world whole. Every person we pass in a hallway is affected by us one way, or another. Once we see that everything is connected, we see the purpose of life. Our own and everybody else’s. ‘That God has arranged all things in the world in consideration of everything else.’ [Hildegard of Bingen]
Relax now in body and mind, slow your breathing, and enter your meditation, centering your prayer, your will and intention on the truth that each small thing I can do matters…. knowing God has arranged everything to be connected..
Love and every blessing
Kathryn
Joan Chittister, Aspects of the Heart, p 14, 15, 81.
We are using this app to assist.
https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-mobile-app
Remember to watch an introduction to Centering Prayer Meditation with Kathryn. You can see it here
Let us know how you are finding this time – we always like to hear from you😊
Peace and health at this time.
Irene & Damien