Inner Journey Blog

Show Me Your Glory

Now and then we are given just a taste of the "kabod"-- the weighty glory of God. We call it His presence, or His touch, or His stirrings, or His Spirit's infilling. Whatever one calls it, it is the substance that our soul longs most for.

When we are touched by just a drop of His weighty glory our soul is saturated with a satisfaction that cannot be described. Just a momentary experience of this and we are completely at rest and satisfied. We have had a taste of that which completely quenches the cry of our soul. We have had a morsel of that "something" that our soul is so desparate for that we spend our lives running here and there and everywhere trying to satisfy it. The soul exists, it seems, with a deep cry to be united, at one with, and saturated by this "something" that we search everywhere to find.

Just a momentary contact with that glory and we feel symbiotically connected to something so deep, so weighty, so real, so imbued with life that the soul is at rest, yet alive and filled and complete. This is the experience that the mystics have difficulty expressing. Mere words like wonder, beauty, loved, sweet, powerful, presence, mystery, awesomeness, oneness, wholeness, fullness-- none of these even begin to convery what a soul experiences when touched, however lightly, by the glory.

Before we realize it, however, the moment passes and we find ourselves panting, like the psalmist, for more of His kabod-glory. We are left with an alarming thirst for more-- as in a parched and weary land. Nothing else will do. We have been satisfied for a moment, yet we find ourselves with even deeper longings as a result of the taste.

This is the place that Moses came to when He cried out to God, "Show me your glory." He was saying, I believe, "You have given me tastes, here and there, causing me to thirst more and more and more for the One that completely satisfies. You have tormented me, in a wonderful way, with the sweet tastes of who you are. Now, please, will you show me a more complete glimpse? Will you give me an experience that will stay with me?"

God, in essence, said, "Yes, I will show you my glory... but it will still be just a partial revelation. The human soul, on earth, can only handle so much and live. I will give you what you can handle." And that is our dilemma: caught between heaven and earth. Thirsting for heaven while living on earth.

Do we give up then? Do we settle for what we have experienced in the past? Do we stop pursuing if we cannot receive 100% everlasting satisfaction now?

If I had not tasted the glory, then my answer might be "yes." How tempting, even now, to try to find rest and satisfaction elsewhere. But having been awakened, if only by moments of droplets of that presence, I cannot rest until I find my rest in Him (Augustine). Therefore, though heaven will bring the fulfillment, even now I must continue to cry out with Moses, "Show me your glory."

Merton on Contemplation

I'm re-reading Thomas Merton's Contemplative Prayer. A classic!

He begins by asserting that this type of prayer is not just for "monks" but it is for all people engaged in all types of occupations:

Certainly, in the pressures of modern urban life, many will face the need for a certain interior silence and discipline simply to keep themselves together, to maintain their human and Christian identity and their spiritual freedom.

He then goes on to describe the practice of contemplative prayer, calling it "prayer of the heart" which consists of "interior recollection, the abandonment of distracting thoughts and the humble invocation of the Lord Jesus with words from the Bible in a spirit of intense faith."

He says that prayer of the heart is a "way of keeping oneself in the presence of God and of reality, rooted in one's own inner truth." It is prayer that is "accomplished in silence, in nakedness of spirit, in emptiness, in humility."

This type of prayer goes beyond mental meditation on Scripture or spiritual images. This latter is very benefial and encouraged by Scripture (i.e Psalm 1:3). Although contemplative prayer (or prayer of the heart) is often initiated by meditative prayer, it goes beyond it. It is a "prayer of silence, simplicity... a deep personal integration in an attentive, watchful listening of "the heart."

Scripture uses terms like "gazing upon His beauty," "waiting on the Lord," and "abiding in Him" to describe this type of prayer.

Prayer of the heart (contemplation) is like two lovers just being together. They have passed beyond conversation and have entered into a place of silently enjoying being in the company of each other.

Merton says that contemplative prayer is "not so much a way to find God as a way of resting in him whom we have found, who loves us, who is near to us, who comes to us to draw us to himself." He states that through this type of prayer "we seek God himself present in the depths of our being and meet him there by invoking the name of Jesus in faith, wonder and love." This is the practice of being with the One who is "more intimate to us than we are to ourselves."

I will fill you in on more of Merton as I continue to read.

Grateful For All Things

A quote from the previous post:

"I simply desire whatever God brings me and am grateful. So, I am able to accept the bitter and the sweet with equal joy. I know everything comes from God's hand and God knows what is best for me. In God's presence I am completely happy."

I have mixed thoughts about it.

I'm not sure that I am to accept everything as from God's hand... surely there are some things that are coming my way that I have brought on myself, that the enemy has brought along, and that I am to stand against, even battle. "Change the things I can," means that there are some things that I must take responsibility for doing my part and not simply accept as from God's hand.

That being said, though, there is a whole lot of life left over that is in the category of "accept the things I cannot change." For the things in this particular category, this quote becomes very powerful.

To be grateful for all things that come into my life (that I cannot change) is to walk in a level of faith that is freeing and exciting. It is the ability to see God, by faith, in every situation, and to acknowledge Him and His goodness within it.

A great challenge!

I feel like the man who said, "Lord, I believe... but... well... help my unbelief." Help me to walk in that level of faith: accepting the bitter and the sweet with the exact same level of joy.

Let's see... joy... by faith... that God is working what is best for me in all these things:
My children who are trying to be adults but are not-yet adults and floundering.
My wife when she is not feeling well.
My "want-to" list of trips and adventures that seems out of reach because of finances.
The rejections by people I thought of as friends but who turned out not to be.
My regrets from past mistakes or failures.
My personal weaknesses and shortcomings that I am more aware of than ever.

The list could go on.

I confess that this is an interesting "faith" exercise. This is not, "Let me be grateful for the things I do have and the blessings that are around me," rather it's the challenge to find gratitude for the things that I perceive as most difficult. Seeing God, by faith, in them.

I will need to keep looking at this!

(Feel free to post comments on this devotional blog, on your own daily devotion, on anything relating to contemplation, lectio divina, loving God.)

Where To Find God

Introduction to Practicing God's Presence by Brother Lawrence:

A monk prayed for seven years for God to send him a spiritual director who could show him the way to living in God's love. One day he was guided by an inner voice that said, "Go to the church door. There you will find a person who will show you the way to Me."

Upon arriving at the church door, he found a barefoot and ragged beggar. The monk greeted the beggar with "have a good day," then stood patiently waiting for the person God promised to send.

The beggar stood next to the monk and said, "Thank you for your friendly greeting. I shall have a good day. I have never been unhappy. In my whole life I have known nothing but happiness."

The monk looked questioningly into the soft eyes of the ragged and barefoot beggar. The beggar continued, "I have never had a bad day. Bad days come only when we do not employ them in honoring God by our submission and gratitude. If I am hungry and no one gives me anything to eat, I praise God. If I am exposed to rain, snow, and wind, I thank God. If others look upon my poverty with contempt, I praise God's glory."

"I simply desire whatever God brings me and am grateful. So, I am able to accept the bitter and the sweet with equal joy. I know everything comes from God's hand and God knows what is best for me. In God's presence I am completely happy."

The monk, of course, now realized that this was the spiritual director for whom he had prayed. He stood quietly for a moment, questions racing through his head. Finally, the monk asked, "Where have you found God?"

The beggar gently smiled and said, "I found Him when I took leave of all creatures. I found Him in my inmost heart. When I am silent with men I am able to converse with God and with Him I always find perfect peace."

More on The Closer Walk

Continued from the Introduction to Brother Lawrence's Practicing the Presence of God:

God's the One.

He's the One who never lets us down, never disappoints us. He's the One we can always count on. He never breaks a promise.

God's the one who picks us up when we fall, carries us when we are too sick or too tired to walk. If we have to go an extra mile, He takes us.

He gives us courage to step apart from the crowd, courage to take a stand, and courage to stand alone.

He slows us down when we go too fast and hurries us along when we dawdle.

He is our strength in doing the hard things and, even sometimes, makes the hard things easy.

With God we are never alone. His presence is kind and gentle.

He fills the air with comfort and tender-loving care.

And God lasts. People don't last. They die. They go away. They go on their way. They go their own way. Things don't last. Places don't last. God lasts. God is Everlasting.

Some people hold the idea that, since we can never fully know or understand God, we shouldn't bother, shouldn't try. But that is just the opposite of what God wants.

He wants us to know Him. He wants us to try. He wants us to ask. He wants us to bring Him all our questions. He wants us to understand Him because He completely understands us. Brother Lawrence wrote, "We have a God who is infinitely gracious and knows all our wants."

For all He gives, God asks so little in return. All He asks is that we love, honor, and serve Him and place nothing between ourselves and Him. He wants to be number one with us as we are with Him.

God is pleased when we call upon Him. He wants us to lean on Him. He wants us to hear His kind and gentle words of encouragement.

In His conversation He prefers simplicity and directness. Fuss and fancy words are unnecessary. "Thank you, God" and "Thank you, Father" are most satisfactory. Plain talk and an easy exchange of words and thoughts throughout the day are His delight.

(Feel free to post comments on this devotional blog, on your own daily devotion, on anything relating to contemplation, lectio divina, loving God.)

OurDailyBlog

I have added OurDailyBlog to my daily devotionals listed in the right hand column.

This is a blog that reprints "classics." Currently you can read a daily selection from Thomas a Kempis.

Good stuff!

The Closer Walk

An introduction to Brother Lawrence's work on Practicing the Presence of God:

In Simple Faith

Brother Lawrence left the gift of a way of life available to anyone who seeks to know God and live in His peace and presence; that anyone, regardless of age or circumstance, can practice -anywhere, anytime.

In the small book, THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD, Brother Lawrence beautifully explains, through letters and conversations, how to come to know God. His simple approach of a continuous, prayerful conversation enables us to come to know God - not from the head but from the heart, a way many of us have never known before.

In practicing God's presence we put aside the complications of worldliness and, as Our Dear Lord said, "become as little children". In simple faith we discover:

God is our perfect parent. He loves us more than we can ever imagine. He is the parent who is ever proud of us. He has a thousand ways of showering us with affection. He is always there to attend to our least little cut or scrape.

He supports, encourages, and cheers us on. He scolds and corrects us when we are wrong, but ever so gently.

God is the One who is always there, the perfect friend and partner. He always has time for us and wants to hear everything we have to say. It is all important to Him. He understands it all, even when we think no one could possibly understand how we think or feel. God understands. He listens and He cares.

God is so big, so immense, that each one of us can have an exclusive relationship with Him and He still has time and love for more. And He always answers us. He speaks to us in so many ways, if we but listen.

In an upside-down world of illusion and deception, a world where appearances are not what they seem, God is real. God created, and allows to exist, all of it, both good and bad, so we may live with our eyes open, see clearly, and choose His Goodness.

When our eyelids get heavy and we begin to doze off, God finds a way to awaken us and provides another chance to choose His Love and Goodness.

With God we never run out of chances. All is never lost. God loves us so much that He gives us a limitless number of chances to choose His Love and Goodness.

"He embraces me with love. He makes me eat at His table. He serves me with His own hands and gives me the key to His treasures. He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways."
... Brother Lawrence

(Feel free to post comments on this devotional blog, on your own daily devotion, on anything relating to contemplation, lectio divina, loving God.)

Aiming At Nothing But God

Still reflecting on the words of Thomas a Kempis:

Who is more at rest than he who aims at nothing but God? And who more free than the man who desires nothing on earth?

Sometimes I find that my soul is connecting with God in a way that is so satisfying that I can understand what it means to aim at nothing but God. I want to. My soul is resting in God and feeling surrounded by Him, at peace, filled up and feasting on His presence. But those moments come and go. I may feel that way for a minute, an hour, maybe nearly a day. But then it's desert. Soon I'm aiming at everything but God. I can't remember that deep sense of being so completely satisfied in Him.

If I only knew how to stay in that place.

But then, the spiritual life is not all about how I feel. I am told that God is doing more in me when I am aiming at Him and Him alone during those times when I am not feeling satiated by Him. The dark night. Faith not feeling. Naked before God even though I don't feel surrounded by Him. I am told that this has more interior value than when I am feeling giddy from His presence. I am told... I am told... and I guess I do believe it... But, I have to tell you, oh how I love those seasons when I am feeling wrapped up, loved up, held up, and lifted up by His wonder and beauty.

Oh how much easier it is, during those times, to aim at nothing but God and to desire nothing on earth.

(Feel free to post comments on this devotional blog, on your own daily devotion, on anything relating to contemplation, lectio divina, loving God.)

Desiring Nothing On Earth

I'm off to a men's meeting/gathering for the evening... always inspiring. No time to write, but I'm meditating on these words by Thomas a Kempis:

Who is more at rest than he who aims at nothing but God? And who more free than the man who desires nothing on earth?

Maybe I will get some input from the guys and bring it back...

...who more free than the man who desires nothing on earth...

Our Unique Call -- Henri Nouwen

Our Unique Call

So many terrible things happen every day that we start wondering whether the few things we do ourselves make any sense. When people are starving only a few thousand miles away, when wars are raging close to our borders, when countless people in our own cities have no homes to live in, our own activities look futile. Such considerations, however, can paralyse us and depress us. Here the word call becomes important. We are not called to save the world, solve all problems, and help all people. But we each have our own unique call, in our families, in our work, in our world. We have to keep asking God to help us see clearly what our call is and to give us the strength to live out that call with trust. Then we will discover that our faithfulness to a small task is the most healing response to the illnesses of our time.