Spending Time with the Clouds
"Just pay
attention, and then patch a few words together, and don't try to make them
elaborate. This isn't a contest but the doorway into thanks, and a silence in
which another voice may speak." – from "Praying" by poet, Mary
Oliver
When this quote
came my way it caught my attention immediately for more reasons that I have
space here to explain. So I will stay
with two thoughts.
First is the word “doorway.” In 2 Kings 4:8-37 there is a reference to the Great Woman of Shunem standing in the doorway of the prophet, Elisha. Doorways are symbolic luminal places where there is much potential and possibilities. For the poet, Mary Oliver, it is an entrance place to gratitude and silence.
Which leads me to my second thought – “silence.” Often in Spiritual Direction, people talk to me about how hard it is to be silent or to ignore all that goes on in their minds. I encourage them that sheer will does not bring silence but that there are things we can do to help.
When I can, where I live there is a spot outside I like to sit. It is there I spend time with the clouds or what ever is going on in the sky. It is my focus and slows my mind allowing sacred silence to enter through my spirit’s doorway.
Read the above quote again and note what captures your attention, then find a place that allows your spirit to slow down and move into silence.
First is the word “doorway.” In 2 Kings 4:8-37 there is a reference to the Great Woman of Shunem standing in the doorway of the prophet, Elisha. Doorways are symbolic luminal places where there is much potential and possibilities. For the poet, Mary Oliver, it is an entrance place to gratitude and silence.
Which leads me to my second thought – “silence.” Often in Spiritual Direction, people talk to me about how hard it is to be silent or to ignore all that goes on in their minds. I encourage them that sheer will does not bring silence but that there are things we can do to help.
When I can, where I live there is a spot outside I like to sit. It is there I spend time with the clouds or what ever is going on in the sky. It is my focus and slows my mind allowing sacred silence to enter through my spirit’s doorway.
Read the above quote again and note what captures your attention, then find a place that allows your spirit to slow down and move into silence.
Roberta Popara,
OP
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