There are moments where we are acutely aware of God's presence within us. We can feel God's energy moving in and around us. We are fully aware of the Spirit's indwelling. These moments are both completely terrifying and completely comforting all at once. When I am most fully aware of God's presence within me I tend to want to try and flea for fear I am not worthy or enough. Yet, I also want to dwell in this moment forever trusting I am enough and I am completely worthy.
The more I am fully aware of God's indwelling the less terrified I am. I think the more we are aware of God's presence within us the more comforting it is. In fact I think this is what it means to be authentic or to be your true self. Our authenticity comes from embracing who God created us to be and thus how God's Spirit shines through us. In order to let the Spirit shine from within us we must peel back the layers of our "shadow self" that formed because of life circumstances and what "the world" told us we should be. Uncovering our authentic self does not happen overnight. It takes time, energy, and work. In reality it might even take a life time because when we peel back one layer another one can form. I guess you could say uncovering your authentic self is a continuous process. It is a process of death and re-birth.
In many ways this process is resurrection process. Yet, unlike Jesus' death and resurrection which only occurred once ours happens daily. Jesus' death and resurrection give us a foundation for our own death and resurrection process. We know that Jesus was afraid and even prayed not to die. He wasn't fully prepared for his death or his resurrection. Yet, in faith he prayed "not my will but yours." We too are afraid to let parts of us die. For these parts of us seems to be foundational to who we are. The may be comforting they may have even served us well for a time. We wonder if I let this part of me die what will take it's place? Or will I know myself with out this part of me? Will others know me after this part of me is "gone"? Jesus resurrection reminds us that death is not the end and that with death brings renewal and re-bith. Resurrection reminds us that by peeling away the layers of our "shadow self" we are able to be more fully alive and fully present in this world. We are able to have more moments of being acutely aware of God's presence within us. In the end it's about LOVE-the ability to give and receive God's love more freely. And that my friends is very Good News!!
Showing posts with label Presence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Presence. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Breathe In and Out...Breathe In and Out...
Breathe in and out...breathe in and out...breathe in and out...this is how most yoga classes begin. By connecting with rhythm of your breath you begin to to notice things about your body and your mind. You begin to notice where there is tension and where there is an opening for release. This is what keeps me practicing yoga.
When I first began regularly practicing yoga about 9 months ago it was primarily for my physical wellbeing as well as longing for a community where experienced love and belonging. There is no doubt that I am physically stronger and more flexible. In fact when I began yoga I had no idea there were these "crazy" arm balance poses and when I first saw them I thought to myself, "I could never do those!" Yet, today I can do many of them! I am amazed by what my body is capable of.
However, I've also learned that not every pose is there every time you come to your mat. There are days when it takes every ounce of my energy to just get through "my flow" and the rest is really just a crap shoot. On those days, after I curse myself for not being able to to a pose, I then promptly say to myself, "it's okay that it's not there today, maybe tomorrow, or possibly the next day it will be there." I think this is true in life. Some days we can do it and some days we fail. It is on those days that I need to remind myself to love who I am and what I can to that day, not what I could do yesterday or what I might be able to do tomorrow, just who I am TODAY!
What I didn't expect when I began practicing yoga was that I would be challenged and encouraged to be fully present with myself. This practice of being fully present with myself has cultivated an awareness of the connection with mind, body, and spirit. I find the more fully present with myself, the more authentic the connection is between my mind, body, and spirit. Being fully present with yourself requires awareness of the effect that your mind, body and spirt have on one another. For example, we tend to hold the energy from emotions in our hips, thus when you do a yoga pose that is a hip opener you may suddenly feel a release of an emotion that was stored there. Through the practice of yoga I have become so aware of the these connections and for that I am grateful!
For me the yoga breath...breathing in and out...is where I begin to be fully present with myself. I am reminded that in hebrew the word for "breath" is the same as the word for "spirit." To breathe is to filled with the Holy Spirit. Thus, being fully present with myself is also to be fully present with God.
When I first began regularly practicing yoga about 9 months ago it was primarily for my physical wellbeing as well as longing for a community where experienced love and belonging. There is no doubt that I am physically stronger and more flexible. In fact when I began yoga I had no idea there were these "crazy" arm balance poses and when I first saw them I thought to myself, "I could never do those!" Yet, today I can do many of them! I am amazed by what my body is capable of.
However, I've also learned that not every pose is there every time you come to your mat. There are days when it takes every ounce of my energy to just get through "my flow" and the rest is really just a crap shoot. On those days, after I curse myself for not being able to to a pose, I then promptly say to myself, "it's okay that it's not there today, maybe tomorrow, or possibly the next day it will be there." I think this is true in life. Some days we can do it and some days we fail. It is on those days that I need to remind myself to love who I am and what I can to that day, not what I could do yesterday or what I might be able to do tomorrow, just who I am TODAY!
What I didn't expect when I began practicing yoga was that I would be challenged and encouraged to be fully present with myself. This practice of being fully present with myself has cultivated an awareness of the connection with mind, body, and spirit. I find the more fully present with myself, the more authentic the connection is between my mind, body, and spirit. Being fully present with yourself requires awareness of the effect that your mind, body and spirt have on one another. For example, we tend to hold the energy from emotions in our hips, thus when you do a yoga pose that is a hip opener you may suddenly feel a release of an emotion that was stored there. Through the practice of yoga I have become so aware of the these connections and for that I am grateful!
For me the yoga breath...breathing in and out...is where I begin to be fully present with myself. I am reminded that in hebrew the word for "breath" is the same as the word for "spirit." To breathe is to filled with the Holy Spirit. Thus, being fully present with myself is also to be fully present with God.
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