On Prayer and Meditation...

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Turning all the noise off in life and in my head is hard sometimes.  I'm so distracted by devices, whether it's phone, computer, or iPad.  Also, kids, husband, bills or work and busy-ness keep me from taking time to pray and talk to God.  It's hard to turn off the noise and be still enough to hear from God.  I've always been pretty good about asking God for things but not so good at listening.  Meditation is helping to still my mind.  The song, Oceans, helps me to be still and pray and listen.  

I invite you try it...Wherever you are right now.  It's okay if you're in your office chair, at your kitchen table or in bed.  It doesn't matter.  Just get comfortable and place your hands on your legs or any comfortable position.

Start the Video Below...

Take a Deep Breath...

Close Your Eyes (if you wish)...

Breathe...

It's okay if your mind wanders...

Just come back to your breath...

Take a Deep Breath...

Breathe...

Breathe...

Breathe...

Pray.

Listen.

Love.

With Love,

Jackie

Stretching...Mind and Body...

Good Morning,

As I write this post I'm sitting in a room with 9 other people and we are participating in a Mindfulness Writing Retreat this week.  We have been doing yoga and meditation and I'm being stretched in more ways than one.  The yoga movements are stretching my body and there is no doubt that this is something I need to bring into my life every week.  The movements feel good and I'm relaxed, yet energized, after each session.  

I'm also being stretched mentally.  We are doing some LONG meditation sessions.  I have participated in meditation before and have taken a couple of other meditation courses, yet, I have never sat in meditation for as long as we are at this retreat.  I really enjoy it and I am amazed at how quiet my mind can become if I focus on my breathing or another sound.  Since we are on a golf course I have been able to focus on birds chirping and the smack of golf balls being hit.  Believe it or not...smacking golf balls has helped me focus.

Meditation As A Way To Talk To God

When I meditate I am able to quiet my mind enough to talk to God.  So many times when I start to pray (or talk to God) I get sidetracked and the next thing I know I'm making a mental grocery list, thinking about what I'm going to wear for the day or where the kids need to go after school.  

Am I the only one that does this? 

It has gotten harder to find the time to meditate because my boys are getting older and we have so much more going on than we used to but I feel it's really important in my prayer life.  Focusing on quieting my mind helps me reach out to God.  I can put aside all those racing thoughts of everything that has to be done and focus on communicating with God.  Maybe 5 minutes....maybe 15 minutes...maybe an hour (although that is rare). 

One of the courses I took a couple of years ago was based on the book, Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton.  In this course we explored the spiritual disciplines that Barton discusses in the book.  One of which is solitude and includes meditation.  Another of the spiritual disciplines is scripture and encountering God through Lectio Divina, which I believe was originally a Catholic practice of spiritual reading.   I have written about Lectio Divina before and the Solo Devotional Book (The Message/REMIX: Solo Devotional).  This way of reading scripture has helped me immensely in understanding it and applying it to my life.  I encourage you to read this book if you desire a change in your spiritual life.

Although I'm slightly stressed at thinking about the amount of work piling up in my office...I'm glad I'm here. 

Oh, the meditation chimes just went off...back to yoga...

Namaste.

--jackie

Doing The Dishes...

 

Eight years ago I worked for a professor here at the University and we had some interesting, deep and philosophical conversations.  He was about to retire from a long academic career.  He wasn't easy to work for, but he had a lot of knowledge and I learned from him.  One of our conversations was about Doing The Dishes.  Yes.  Doing The Dishes.  At the time, my first born was two years old and I was still trying to adjust to Motherhood and Working and what that meant.  In one of our conversations, I remember him telling me that every night he and wife would dine together and then he would put on some music and do the dishes.  He did the dishes.  He said, "it's the most relaxing part of my day".  I probably smiled and said something like, "that's nice".  What I remember thinking is, "what in the world is he talking about?"  I just want to get home, see my baby, eat dinner and get the clean up over with so we can get on with our evening.  I was definitely moving at a fast pace and not enjoying the little things.  Not really taking the time to enjoy the Moments. 

Until last night...I had forgotten about this conversation.

Last night, like always, Pat was at work and the boys and I had dinner.  After dinner one was showering and one was in his room.  I commenced with the usual after-dinner cleanup.  I filled the dishwasher, started it and then began hand-washing some of the pots and glassware.  The window above the sink was open and there was a cool breeze blowing in.  The sink was full of suds.  The house was quiet except for the running water from the shower down the hall.  

Then.

I got it.  I understood why that was the most relaxing part of his day.  I felt it too.  The busy-ness of the day was being washed away as the dishes in the sink were becoming clean.  It was a simple and repetitive motion.  But I relaxed.  I enjoyed it.  This simple task.  It didn't feel like the chore it has always felt like to me in the past.

I'm not sure what has changed within me.  Growing older maybe?  Probably.  But I'm learning to enjoy all the moments.  Especially the small ones.  

Until Next Time,

Jackie

**photo courtesy of flickr.com 

I'm linking up with Blessed Little Nest's - Life Made Lovely Monday (even though it's Tuesday).  Head over there for more loveliness!

Taking Time to Comfort...Me!

I've had a struggle this winter with taking time for myself. Specifically, taking time to enjoy my coffee, journal and prayer early in the morning...before everyone awakens in my house. When everyone else wakes up, I have to put myself aside and take care of their needs. Working full-time, taking care of my family, taking care of my home and other responsibilities leaves little time for me...to connect...with me. I know this. Yet, I've continued to to neglect this time that I need. The rest of my life has suffered, in a way, this winter because I've neglected taking this time for myself. Oh, I've gotten up early in the morning like I always do but I have found myself doing laundry, checking face-book and email and even mopping floors and then before I know it...it's time to wake up the kids and get myself and them ready to head out the door for the day. I've been frazzled...less patient than normal...and stressed.

However, for the last month I have made an appointment with myself around 5:00-5:30 a.m. I don't turn on the t.v. or the computer. I don't open my journal, devotional, bible or whatever book I'm reading or studying. I light a candle before I even turn on any lights and curl up in my chair with a comfy blanket and I am Quiet.

I Breathe.

I Connect with Myself.

I can Think.

When I am Quiet, I can truly focus my prayers, what I read will be more meaningful and my journaling will reveal my true feelings about what is happening in my life. It's easy to lose myself in the busy-ness of my life and my role as a Mom. I need to reconnect with myself daily and then I do a much better job in all areas of my life.

My Comfort Basket**. This little basket holds my journal, bible, devotional and a candle. I carry it to wherever I want to spend my Quiet time each morning.

Little touches of Spring-time inside my home.

**Believe it or not...I made that little basket more than 10 years ago at the House of Mary B. in Arrow Rock MO.