Norma Hochgraf has introduced to our Tuesday morning Bible
Study the concept and practice of mindfulness.
Mindfulness is a practice of one-pointed focus and awareness. It is amazing to me how much our state of
being is dependent upon what we put our minds on. We can only really put our minds on one
thing at a time but our minds dance onto and off of one thought and the other
in rapid succession. Sometimes we get so
caught up in an idea it takes control of us.
The problem comes when it is the wrong idea. It is like we are enchanted by it and placed
under its spell.
Christian
meditation and contemplation puts our mind on one thing; for example a word, a
phrase, an image, breath, an activity or prayer. By virtue of the practice our minds are
taken off other things. Today I want to introduce to you a prayer that comes
from the Navaho tradition. Sit with
these words in relaxed and prayerful contemplation when you do your daily
prayer. Put away distraction and center
yourself with them. Address them to God out loud and return them silently.
O you who dwell in the
house made of the dawn
In the house made of the
evening twilight . . .
Where the dark mist
curtains the doorway,
The path to which is on
the rainbow . . .
I have made your
sacrifice.
I have prepared these
thoughts for you.
My feet restore for me.
My limbs restore for me.
My body restore for me.
My mind restore for me.
My voice restore for me.
Today, take away your
spell from me.
Away from me you have
taken it.
Far off from me you have
taken it.
Happily I recover.
Happily my interior
becomes cool.
Happily my eyes regain
their power.
Happily my head becomes
cool.
Happily my limbs regain
their power.
Happily I hear again.
Happily for me the spell
is taken off.
Happily I walk.
Impervious to pain, I
walk.
Feeling light within, I
walk . . .
In beauty I walk.
With beauty before me, I
walk.
With beauty behind me, I
walk.
With beauty below me, I
walk.
With beauty beside me, I
walk.
With beauty all around me,
I walk.
It is finished with
beauty.
It is finished with
beauty.
It is finished with
beauty.
This is the Christian
prayer:
With God/Christ/Spirit
before me, I walk.
With God/Christ/Spirit
behind me, I walk.
With God/Christ/Spirit
below me, I walk.
With God/Christ/Spirit
beside me, I walk.
With God/Christ/Spirit all
around me, I walk.
It is finished with God/Christ/Spirit.
It is finished with God/Christ/Spirit.
It is finished with God/Christ/Spirit.
The invitation of this
prayer is to be aware of where your mind is focused, so often in a restricted
sense of self, and look beyond it to a transcendent reality that is always
present for us in the daily walk of our life.
Where we place our attention matters because it is there that we find
our meaning.
In Christ,
+Pastor Will+
