Tag Archive for: Jesus Christ

Are Your Spiritual Senses Dulled?

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Do the trappings, clutter and clammer of Christmas leave your spiritual senses dulled, even jaded?  Or perhaps you’re very much engaged in the fun of the season and welcome the interruption of daily life, not to mention the distraction Christmas offers against the loud, chaotic noise of our present culture. 

My experience is that I see people move between being jaded by and drawn in to this well-needed interruption.  

What do we really celebrate and honor through Christmas?  Rather than just a baby being born to a virgin, conceived by the Holy Spirit, which is beyond remarkable and certainly worth our honor and gratitude, can we see it as the Great, Holy Interruption of humankind and all of history by the Incarnation of the Sacred Presence into human form.

This Great Interruption by the Most High God into humanity not only changed the course of history, but offers a course change for you and every single human being, regardless of where we are or where we’ve been.

I suggest we all take this historical event very personally, because the Incarnation is a personal experience for you and everyone. The key is, do you want it to be.  

No more is the heavenly realm only available through the death of our mortal bodies. Jesus transcended that boundary by His birth, death and resurrection and says to us, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, accessible here and now. It’s but a breath away. A thought in a different direction.

No more are we bound by relying on following the teachings of spiritual leaders, gurus, priests, rabbis and prophets. Though they are absolutely helpful, even necessary: Jesus invites us to commune with God personally and listen to His Voice revealed by the same Holy Spirit, in the depth of our being.

No more are we separated from the Most High by this three dimensional reality or by our religious doctrine.  Jesus came as the living embodiment of this truth that God is with us in the here and now and for all eternity.

So now, how do you respond? Are you willing to receive the Incarnation, this truth that God is with you and transcended time, space and the material world for you?

Are you willing to recognize this cataclysmic event that happened over 2000 years ago that came as an innocent baby through a faithful woman is now coming to you, for you and through you?

The world needs you and I, with open minds and hearts, to respond, receive, believe and live as the messenger of the Christ Presence here and now.

As you celebrate Christmas this year (and every year to come) may the Holy One give you peace and a renewed sense of who He is and who you truly are.

Let nothing frighten you, really? How is that possible?

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It’s been 4 weeks since I closed my brick and mortar business due to this pandemic.  It’s the business I’ve owned and operated for 30 years.  As a single mother and grandmother, for the past 17 years, it has been the way I’ve supported my family, kept a humble roof over my head and food on the table, for which I am eternally grateful.  It has been the way I’ve contributed and served others by employing between 20 to 30 people, mostly women.  Many over the years were single mothers, themselves. Though rewarding, It has been quite challenging throughout the years to be a small business owner; however, it has given me the flexibility I’ve needed to give birth to this ministry of 20 years, that God planted in me since I was a child.  This experience is in the top three dark challenges: divorce, child’s drug addiction and now living through a global pandemic.  I do not say this glibly, as I’ve fought some hard won battles, but I’ve come to the realization that all as gift.  I’ve lived the reality that pain is inevitable but suffering is optional.  Now is no different. 

When I heard the invitation of Christ decades ago, to “Follow me” I was so naive.  Yet the desire for authentic connection with God and my truest self could not be appeased any other way.  It requires grace and grit, freedom and surrender all of which are the action of God within me. During those times of darkness and pain when I’ve tried to control the outcome is when I suffered the most.  When I tried to escape what I feared the most, control outcomes or take the go along to get along approach, is when I created more suffering for myself and others. 

So what has allowed me to not be utterly battered by the storms?    It has been my relentless pursuit (which is the fire of the Holy Spirit in me) of a deeper relationship with God through Centering Prayer.  That has been the common denominator.  Yes, meditating on scripture and other forms of prayer have been integral to my life as well, however, Centering Prayer is the sacred container that holds my unbridled yes to God.  So whatever draws me into prayer, whether a global pandemic or the love for my family, friends and strangers is drawing me deeper into God, into Love, into Peace.  I can say whether life circumstances appear as  blessing or curse I enter into Centering Prayer where I put into practice the words of St. Teresa of Avila, “Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, all things are passing, God never changes. Patience wins all things; those who have God lack nothing: God alone suffices,”  

The Tomb Is Empty, Now What?

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The world just celebrated the highest holiday on the Christian calendar, Easter.  The day we honor the resurrection of Jesus the Christ from the grave.  The day we celebrate new life.  

Spring reminds us that new life exists in all of nature, but Easter reminds us new life exists for each one of us.  Without the Resurrection we’d be left with no way out;  left dealing with the darkness our own wounds and dysfunction create.  Without the Resurrection we’d be faced with perpetuating these same wounds on others.  Without the Resurrection we’d be left with the impossible task of having to redeem our lives from the pit of our own despair.  We’d be left with the fact that a dysfunctional, false self can not transform itself into one’s true Self, one’s Christ Self for there would be no Christ self.  

Because Jesus lived truth, fully human and fully divine.  Because He showed it’s possible to live always in union with God the Father, the Creator.  Because His body absorbed the wounds from all of  humanity.   Because the death of His mortal body could not keep Him in the grave.  Because the Presence and Power of the Spirit of the Most High triumphed over death.  Because He lives we too can live.  Too great a mystery to comprehend, only to be received as pure gift.  There is just one major, existential question that Jesus walking out of the tomb creates, “Now what?” 

The only answer is to follow the Master into new life the way He taught and lived, the contemplative way.  The way of tending to your soul.

You are a follower of Christ wanting to answer the ‘now what?’ with your life.  You are a follower of Christ wanting to rise out of the darkness of codependency, anxiety and depression, addiction, grief, shame or whatever is keeping you stuck .  Have you been putting off whole-hearted living and tending to your soul?

Do you find yourself saying “Tomorrow, I’ll pay more attention to this transformation thing”.  “Tomorrow I’ll get to this prayer, meditation thing.”  “Tomorrow I’ll go to that recovery meeting.”  The list goes on.  Guess what?!  Tomorrow is today.  Resurrection life is now.  What does that mean for you?  Christ is tapping on your heart, shaking up your old belief system and patterns of thinking.  Does it seem a bit daunting?  You don’t have to do this new life on your own. 

The way has already been forged for you, but you have to take the steps to intentionally tend to your soul.  The Deeper Connection is here for you.  Spiritual Direction, Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, a deeper prayer life, meditation, an intentional new way of living, is all possible.  You do not have to stay in your tomb.  You do not have to figure this out on your own.  You happened upon this blog article for a reason.  I’ve been where you are.  I have felt what it’s like to live in the dark and follow the Christ way out of the tomb.  

Contact me, like The Deeper Connection facebook page, listen to the prayer tracks on Insight Timer, subscribe to The Deeper Connection YouTube channel, schedule a Spiritual Direction appointment.  I would love to partner with you on your transformation journey, the contemplative way to new life.  It is time.