Serenity in Meditation & Prayer...

I frequently receive questions about meditation, especially from those curious to its relationship with my prayer life. So I thought I would take a moment to address them both. Many people fear meditation because of the unknown relationship to eastern religions, cultures and traditions. Because of the intent behind meditation, regardless of where or how it originated, we should not approach it with fear and rejection, but instead with curiosity and open-mindedness. There is a beautiful bridge between eastern and western cultures, religious beliefs and traditions that, when learned about, can bring great revival, transformation and awareness to our current spiritual practice and prayer life.
The purpose behind meditation is to still the mind, learn to rest in the midst of distraction, and bring focus and clarity to consciousness. Stilling the mind can be a great preparation for focus, intent and prayer. The traditional eastern monks all sit for hours in meditation and prayer to gain clarity, insight and understanding. The eastern culture adheres to and respects the principles of stillness and meditation learned and exemplified by their ancestors. The western culture, however, revolves around involvement, busyness, and production. This Ferris wheel is not only in the world of business, but also in many churches, schools and homes. Many have lost the focus of prayer and come to God strictly in the outpouring of request and concerns. God encourages us to be ourselves, to be open, to pray for our friends, families, even ourselves. But we've gotten so good at talking AT God, we have forgotten how to listen to and be still with Him. Not only have we forgotten to listen, but we've neglected the importance of our thoughts throughout the day. We've become the specialist in emergency prayer and scripture regurgitation for the sake of approval and acceptance.
Psalm 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer." God not only cares about our prayers, about our openness to listen, but He also cares about the constant thoughts and meditations of our hearts and minds. How can my meditations be acceptable if I'm so preoccupied with them I can't even slow down to hear Him? And how can my mind be acceptable if I've closed it to any other ideas of truth?
The Buddhist call the mind the tyranny of the drunken monkey. Our minds are usually restless, bouncing from one thought, demand or fantasy to another. We give into its drunkenness by humoring those thoughts creating a plethora of problems ranging from stress, ulcers, fatigue, even obsessions and addictions. To continue to mull over, hash out, and relive our thoughts is a lack of trust and faith in the One who gives us peace. This is my attempt to control, manipulate or transform a thought, person, situation or circumstance that God has given me NO authority over. I do believe He entrusts me with responsibility, discernment, decisions, and consequences- but I also have a choice as to how much power I am going to give those people, thoughts, circumstances and situations in my own life. I have a choice to meditate on the things of man, my mind, or of Him, His word, and His goodness.
So how can we stop the swirling whirlwind in our minds? By learning the technique of detachment through meditation. Meditation is not just about sitting still, breathing slowly and saying 'OM'. Its a practice of surrender, of trust, of obedience and of strength. It requires trust to let go of all those thoughts in your mind. It requires obedience to sit and meditate on God's truth, your life, and how the two paths unite. It requires surrender to release the illusion of control that we try so desperately to cling to. And it requires strength to see what you've got, acknowledge it for what it is, and decide to transform it, grow from it, be hampered by it, or hand it over. To hand it over is the first step to detachment.
If I can accept ALL that is happening in my life-financial needs, sickness, pain, grief, romance, success, the lack of success-embrace it, acknowledge it and appreciate it instead of fighting and resisting it, then I have learned another step of detachment. Detachment is recognizing what is, and making a choice to keep my emotions and expectations out of the mix. If I chose to focus on one of these particulars- become obsessed in my mind of how I'm going to alter, improve or take from this-then I'm not allowing the process it's place in my life. Instead, I'm trying to figure out every detail, weigh every possibility, measure every corner, and figure out how the rest of my life is going to accommodate and function with it, around it , or without it.

THIS IS AN UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION IN WHICH I HAVE A CHOICE TO ENTERTAIN.

As do we all. Through meditation, these LARGE distractions can be become quite small when I make a decision to refocus instead on my breath, my awareness, the stillness of my body and mind, or something positive and beautiful like a prayer, scripture or mantra. When I give way to the insanity of my circumstances, I lose control of what is one of the FEW and ONLY things I actually have some control over- MY MIND!
"How do you do that?", people ask. In my classes, I often encourage everyone to, "release your thoughts-if any come your way, just allow them to roll by you like clouds." Now, for me, when I began practicing with an instructor, I would find this task UNBELIEVABLY difficult. I would think, "what does she mean, 'let them roll by like clouds!?'..she has NO IDEA what all I have on my plate!" But the more I surrendered to the idea of releasing those thoughts, and the more I began to instead shift my awareness to my breath, I found it became increasingly easier, and to my surprise, more powerful each time I let go. Not only did that release become easier for me in my mediation; it became easier for me in daily life. For me, it was a process of trusting that I COULD let go of my thoughts. I've always had so many TV's and internal dialogues going on at once, that I thought that was normal. I thought everyone always had to have a lot going on, or else they just had nothing going on. I also thought I had to have control over everything happening in and around me, but I began to realize THIS IS A LIE! God does not want my mind distracted and cluttered, nor does He want me so overwhelmed with my life that I am unable to clear my head and relax, and most importantly, let Him do His job-BEING GOD!

I am constantly reminded in scripture that my job is to be, to wait, to listen, to abide, to be obedient, to seek His will, to go where I am lead, but most of all, simply ABIDE! Are these not the characteristics of meditation and of prayer?

TO BE, TO WAIT, TO SEEK, TO LISTEN, TO BE OBEDIENT,TO ABIDE?

God wants me to rest, and that don't just mean layin' down for a nap! He wants me to REST, cause He's got it all figured out, I DON'T HAVE TO!
Psalm 37:7-9 .. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.

To rest, cease, and forsake anger require practice. These things are not encouraged in our culture, nor often understood. Meditate on rest. God wants me to meditate-in fact, He's pretty dern specific on what He even wants me to meditate on, and it ain't the ache in my big toe!
Philippians 4:7-9 .. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Psalm 4:4 .. Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and BE STILL.
(emphasis mine)

God assures me that in my obedience to diligently practice ALL His ways, I'll be rewarded with gifts more valuable than the world can ever allot me.

1 Peter 1: 4-10 .. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in you knowledge, self control, and in you self-control, perserverance, and in you perserverance, godliness, and in you godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of you Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or shortsighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you PRACTICE these things, you will never stumble.

It really is that simple, guys. And here you thought there was more mysticism and excitement to it. I do so hate to disappoint. I assure you there is no disappointment in learning the value of silence. To know God requires communion, communion requires meditation, meditation is active practice, and practice renders us neither useless nor unfruitful. I pray you are inspired to sit still today. Allow me to lead you in your first meditation, and for the old timers, allow me to lead you with a mantra (or thought of meditation).

Find a sacred space, clean of debris and distraction. Sit comfortably so that you are able to stay awhile. (Avoid lying down, because that often leads to sleep). Close your eyes, and slowly breathing in through your nose, and out through your nose. As you inhale, slowly count to 6, and as you exhale, count to 8. This will be your first step to taming the mind and awareness, it's hard to think when you are counting. Do this about 10 times, more if you are highly agitated or unable to settle. Once your mind is clear, inhale and repeat in your mind, TO ABIDE. As you exhale, repeat in your mind, TO ABIDE IS REST AND PEACE. Now, for beginners, this may bring on a flood of thoughts behind the idea of abiding, and I would encourage you when you are done, to return to those thoughts and even journal them. It is in the stillness that we hear the still, small voice. But for now, just focus on the phrases. When you've done this for approximately 10 breaths in and out, then you may return to the stillness, and wait for the magic. For some, this is where the breath of God weighs heavy with you. You will feel airy, light and free without thought or distraction..NAMASTE to you! For some, you will distinctly hear His wisdom, His answers to prayer, and specific directions for you day..NAMASTE to you, as well. And for others, you'll be just as confused, distracted, and bogged down as when you began, and that's alright too! This is a practice which takes time, often years to cultivate, so don't beat yourself up if you don't get it right away. Just keep practicing, and in time it will come.

May you be blessed in your meditation, prayer life, and journey today!

Namaste!

(ok, what's that mean, April?..It's a greeting of presence & acceptance without judgment; basically, the Divine in me greets the Divine in you!)

To lose is gain...

May I first just take a moment to say thank you to so many of you who prayed for and asked regularly about JoJo the past several months. Your kind words and sincere concern have been greatly appreciated and comforting. I experienced the loss of my "surrogate" grandmother over this Mother's Day weekend. My JoJo was diagnosed last year with an inoperable brain tumor, and was told to begin her preparations for death. Although we knew the time was growing near, I don't think anyone can ever be fully prepared for the loss of someone so dear and special. It took a few days for the loss to even hit me, simply because of the overwhelming peace of Christ; the knowledge of knowing she's at home with the Father, well and alive uplifts and inspires me to celebrate her death, but I also know that to mourn is a healthy part of the loss as well. She was ready to go, and made the sweetest comment to me on one of our last visits. She spoke of knowing she would be reunited with her mom & dad, her husband and grandson. She knew she would be meeting the Lord, and was eager. But she said she was even more excited to meet Peter. I laughed and said, "why Peter?" (who is also one I anxiously await to meet). "Because I think he was a groovy guy! He dealt with some struggles and problems, but his heart was always for God; he was always obedient!" I just think of the statement, 'we are attracted to what we are", with honor and gratuity knowing that that was her. JoJo dealt with some struggles, some problems-but her heart was ALWAYS for God, and she was diligent in her obedience. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to have known and been known by such an amazing woman! A woman that knew me better than even my own grandmothers, so much that I claimed her as my own! I marvel in knowing my loss is her gain, for what better place could she be than in eternity, with the King! I pray that you all have the opportunity to experience such an amazing person in your own lives. Thanks again for your prayers, and for letting me share!

My experience at GrayBear...

I want to share with all of you the amazing experience I had at special place called Gray Bear Lodge. I went with the intention to learn Thai Massage, which is an AWESOME, EFFECTIVE, EMPOWERING healing art form that is very much assisted Thai-Yoga therapy. But as I was approaching this place nestled in the beautiful hillside of Hohenwald, Tennessee, I found myself saying I would return to this place which I had yet to arrive- the pull was just that strong. I was relaxed just driving through the countryside filled with yellow flowers and cattle, silos and old farm equipment. I arrived to see a sign on the door which requested I remove my shoes before entering, and greeted by a lovely creature named Diann. I met my "roomies" from Mississippi and Indianapolis, and then wandered briefly around the grounds to appreciate the fresh, cool mountain air and lush, green foliage on the surrounding trees. I was home. I instantly felt at peace, at ease and accepted for who I was without any judgment, questions or fear.

Our first evening we dined together, all 12 of us, on small pillows at tables short to the ground, with food made for the gods! We opened our time together in a circle sharing who we were, where we were from, and what brought us there. Answers varied between bodyworkers, those considering to become so, partners & friends, and yoga instructors. Then we ended with a relaxing yoga class led by Diann. What a way to begin the weekend! It's a beautiful thing to be surrounded by body workers, because the energy is high, the nurturing is genuine, and there's lots of discussion about life, the body and ESPECIALLY the spirit.
The following morning, I was awoken by the sound of a deep church bell. This was our call throughout the weekend for group, meals, and any other gathering or event. Each meal was prepared with love and care; decadent, potent, recharging and most definitely satisfying! All the food was from fresh, organic produce, and all courses were without meat, which was cleansing and invigorating for me (but also gas producing! :) ). I left my home thinking I could cook, but realized quickly I had nothing on these folks! I returned home wanting to throw everything in my pantry away..how could I eat that way for nearly a week and return wanting the same 'blah' I've been having- I couldn't and haven't. I was inspired to begin a new diet which is slowly eliminating meats, and increasing my vegetable, fruits and grains. My mind has never been more sharp, and my body fully charged-I'm lovin' it!

Our instructor, Michael Buck was phenomenal! He was an amazing teacher who was not only knowledgeable in this incredible "folk-art", but very personable, approachable and engaging. It's a rare jewel to find a teacher that is all of these, and I will forever respect him for that. He was respectful of the history, lineage, application and intent of this work, which was also impressive and appreciated. I felt I learned so much, not just about the bodywork, but also about the culture that created it. I felt a new found respect for bodywork in general, as I honed in on the spiritual aspect of what I do. I thought I was sensitive while giving work, but he indeed assisted me in becoming even more respectful and mindful.

I received a special gift from Adam, Diann's husband on my last morning called Watsu. Watsu is hydrotherapy, where I am engaged in what I will call a water dance, with the therapist, Adam as the director. The treatment took place in a stone pool, shaped as a womb, and filled by the waters which come from the hillside of the land. As I totally surrendered to his promptings with trust, he assisted me into a meditative state of relaxation and release. I had memories of being lifted from the womb, as well as seeing my daughter lifted, which was powerful and exciting. I was guided through a series of slow, nurturing poses where my body was left to the guidance of his rhythmic movements and the gentle pull of the water. At one point, I was cradled as an infant and pulled to his chest. With my distant ear under water, and the slow rhythmic beat of his heart against the other ear, it was as if I were cradled against my mother and being lulled to rest by her breath. It was one of the most nurturing and beautiful experiences I believe to have ever encountered, and I'm grateful to have received the work from such a tender and caring spirit! When I was assisted to a sitting position, and prompted to open my eyes, it was as if I were using them for the first time; life was bright and inviting as I scanned the canopy of the pool in search of something recognizable. As my feet rested on the stone floor of the pool, the heat permeating them became nearly unbearable, as if the stones were going to forever scar the bottoms with there imprints. My pace was slow as I became reacquainted with the earth, and again, feeling as if I had never walked. This was truly a rebirthing experience that will forever be remembered as perfectly profound!

I arrived with no clue as to how deep my spirit was in need of this rest, relaxation, nurturing, education and liberation! I left with a plethora of new knowledge and insight, and could not wait to come home to embrace my family and my clients with this new found love for my life and my work! I know that the workshop I attended will not be desirable for everyone, but there are indeed, multiple things available at GrayBear, which I would encourage you to investigate. This lodge will forever hold a dear place in my heart, and I hope that you will feel the same.

You can check out more information at their website:

www.graybear.org

It will be quite some time before I bring the full Thai experience to the office, but I have already begun to incorporate many things on the table. Just know that once you get a taste of it, you're never gonna wanna go back to the 'old' style on the table! It's always nice to have something to look forward to, eh?

Namaste!