Ruminations from the Rector – Lent into Easter 2009
As of this writing we’re two thirds of the way into Lent. We’ll move from here to celebrate the 5th Sunday of Lent, Palm/Passion Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter Sunday. We then enter Eastertide which lasts fifty days and ends on Pentecost. What does all this have to do with you?
Lent is a time of retreat, rest, and reflection to gain a better perspective of your soul image and your present personality. It’s also a time to remember, reconnect, and realign with the very Essence of who you are. From this perspective you can make different choices and connect more consciously with the vertical dimension of life. We walk into Holy Week through surrender which takes us into Easter Sunday where we again realize that death is always followed by resurrection, new life, and ascension to an expanded awareness and consciousness. This leads to a smiling heart, sacred service and renewal. You really get a great look at the singular fluid process of death, resurrection, and ascension during this time by looking through the lens of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. In this, you are directed to see this ever present process of Life which demonstrates the Presence of Divine Aliveness in Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace opening to the field of all possibilities through our effort and divine grace.
This six week Lenten process is followed by a seven week Easter process in which we renew, review, and redo it all over and over and over again so it becomes part of our inner awareness and outer nature. Pentecost marks the awakening and enlivening of Divine Grace in our midst. Spirit is alive and present in every atom of creation. We are interconnected with the whole. The Anointed One, Christos, has released the anointing, christening, to the whole of humanity. Spirit is present in every breath. Awaken and See!
More practice? For those of you still looking for a Lenten/Easter practice that can help you awaken to your little self and your Divine Self here are a few suggestions.
- Learn to treat speech as a Spiritual Practice.
- Before you speak ask: Is it useful? Is it absolutely true?
- Speech conditions our relationships and our minds. What’s your conditioning?
- We spend a lot of time communicating through speech and often don’t pay it full attention or explore the deeper motivation behind it. What are you saying?
- Value silence. Use only speech that serves the goal of loving kindness.
- Ask yourself: Who or what will be served by what I’m about to say?
- Discover the importance of cultivating the garden of silence, inner and outer.
- Ask your Essential Self permission to speak.
- Post guards at the door of your speech. Post guards at the door of your speech.
Hoping the balance of this Lent and the fullness of Eastertide stir your soul and awaken you to PRESENCE, GOD, LIFE, LOVE, YHWH, CHRIST, SPIRIT, IAM.
Fr. Rick Meyers+ Christ’s Episcopal Church + Castle Rock, Colorado+ March 2009
