Nurture Your ‘Inner Mystic’

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Maori Madonna and Child, New Zealand
At the beginning of Advent I gave a Day of Reflection entitled:  Advent – A Season for Everyday Mystics.

I borrowed from an article I read in the journal for Spiritual Directors – Presence – in which the author (Ramona Harris) suggested these stepping stones for our inner mystic:  Noticing, Awareness, Attentiveness, Appreciation, Making Connections, Living Authentically, Joy, Creativity, Stillness and Love.  What would happen to us if we put these into our everyday lives?  Transformation!

I went on to suggest four Advent mystics as guides:  Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph – as we read their stories in the infancy narratives of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.  There we would see these stepping stones unfold in their lives.

In these remaining Advent days – take time to nurture your inner mystic.  Invite these biblical women and men to be your guides.  Don’t stop there!  Take this into the new year and through the whole of the Gospels.  The best guide to help us is Jesus whose life among us balanced the contemplative inner life and the outward apostolic life of service.

This is also the essence of the vowed life in the Order of Preachers.  We are called to contemplate and share the fruits of our contemplation (ministry).

As you discern your life vocation be sure to nurture your inner mystic!

Roberta A. Popara, O.P.

North Palm Beach FL

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