From the Desk of Deacon Judy
Ah Hah Moments
Have you ever had an “Ah Hah” moment? For me, that’s a time when I see what I’ve always thought was true in a new light, with a new perspective.
At Centering Prayer Group this week, I had an “Ah Hah” moment.
But first the backstory – when asked about my prayer life, I often respond that I choose both Centering Prayer and the Brother Lawrence prayer.
In Centering Prayer, I consent to God’s presence during a 20-minute silent “sit”. Wandering thoughts inevitably come and go. My sacred word centers me towards the divine. It’s a spiritual practice that has deepened my relationship with God through silence and listening. Over time the practice rewires the brain and has helped me navigate life’s challenges with more clarity and calm.
My Brother Lawrence prayer stems from this 17th century monk’s writings, The Practice of the Presence of God. Brother Lawrence never left the monastery, but he saw God in his ordinary, routine life, from his duties cleaning the kitchen to sweeping the floors. From Brother Lawrence I have learned to see God in my everyday life. I give thanks to God for the little things. Occasionally I have “silent and secret conversations with God” as did Brother Lawrence.
After our “sit”, our Centering Prayer Group at Holy Trinity Auburn has been discussing Thomas Keating’s book on centering prayer, Open Mind, Open Heart. My “Ah Hah” moment came when I realized that Centering Prayer has all along prepared me for seeing God in my ordinary, everyday life. Here’s the quote that helped me see my prayer life in a new light:
“The ripe fruit of centering prayer is to bring back into the humdrum routines of daily life not just the thought of God, but the spontaneous awareness of God’s abiding presence in, through, and beyond everything.” (p.128)
One more thing – for me, this prayer life prepares me for my call to serve according to my unique gifts. As Richard Rohr affirms, contemplation leads to meaningful action.
So as we walk with Jesus this Holy Week, from Palm Sunday, to Maundy Thursday, and through the via dolorosa, the way of sorrows with him on Good Friday, what might be our “Ah Hah” moments? How will Jesus speak to us in a new way? How will we respond?
Blessings, Judy Q+
