After Silence
It’s been just about a week since I returned from my silent retreat. What I experienced there is still unfolding. Those eight days felt like they belonged to a different order, a different intensity. No computer. No phone. Refreshingly low humidity and cool Bay Area temperatures. There was a sense of timeless presence that opened up a world where noticing began to be a bit easier.
I didn’t read as much as I expected. But the environment: the landscape of many-storied eucalyptus trees, twittering swifts and croaking ravens, an aromatic rose garden, bright red poppies, the sweep of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the delight of picking cherry plums and eating them fresh from the tree, and the varied personalities of my 12 silent companions, became both context and content for the shape of my becoming in Burlingame.
The overwhelming sense I received again and again during Centering Prayer was Love.
Not love explained in abstract theological propositions, but as a bodily reality. Sit after sit, I felt Divine Love wash over me. This may sound trite, but I have never felt the love of God in my bones like this. The subtle crescendo and then burst of oxytocin welled up to tears.
I am beginning to see material reality not as mirrors reflecting God, but as windows through which to notice God, like desert soil and divine spittle that open the eyes.
This afternoon as I was caring for my houseplants, wiping dust from each leaf. I thought: this is like washing the windows so I can see God through this leaf.
What windows are you noticing Divine Love through?
During the retreat I opened up in a fresh way and wrote several poems. Since returning home I have written more and worked on a few paintings. I hope to share some here. During one sit an image of a circus performer came to mind, pulling handkerchief after handkerchief out of his mouth. It felt prophetic. Will I be like this jester—drawing words and phrases and colors and images from some deep interior place that’s been unlocked by Divine Love?
For now, I’ll leave you with one such poem.
Loveliness
I thought I’d have to wrestle all my thoughts to the ground, and demand a blessing. Instead, I was bowled over, taught of my own loveliness.
Ordinary Time Creative Attention
The next creative Creative Attention session is this Thursday evening, July 17. We’ll be anchoring in themes of Wholeness, Attention, and Rhythms as we live into the season of Ordinary Time.
This will be the last Creative Attention I’m hosting until later this Fall, as I take some space to develop a few new ideas.
You can sign up below. I’d love to see you there.