A Practice of Sitting in Silence

Begin by affirming “There is only One Presence and One Power in my life and in the Universe, God, who is Good, who is Omniscience.” I remember then that I am part of that ONE POWER, and all for whom I pray are part of it too….and then I realize…if we are all part of God, we are all perfect, powerful, whole and healthy and it (whatever the prayer request is) is already done. All truly IS well. If I am quiet, I’ll be led to seeing this. And so I sit in the silence.

(Read or speak before sitting in the Silence...)

Affirmations from Ernest Holmes:

There is a Power behind my every thought, word, and everything I am doing.

There is a POWER upholding and sustaining me in everything I do, going before me to prepare my way.

I rest in this POWER in calm and serene confidence, with perfect trust and faith.

It is constructive, activated by love and directed by Divine Intelligence, and I use it in the simplest things in my life.

Today, I accept that all the POWER that is—belongs to me and those for whom I pray, and I recognize and use it in joy and gladness, I am sustained and upheld in peace and wholeness by this POWER, and so it is.

Another day, another sand dollar...

Stuff that makes me happy...

*the ocean surf rolling in, the sound, the smell...soothing, relaxing.

*walking in the sand, warm, soft, meditative.

*smelling sea air, breathing deeply, head opening up...awake, aware, alive, alert.

*sitting in the sun, resting, reading, writing, contemplation.

*people I love, hugging, smiling, words of love, family...warms and expands my heart.

*wisteria blooming on my arbor, heavenly smell, beautiful to look at...soaking it up.

*water fountain in my yard...reminds me of the ocean.

*early morning walks in my neighborhood, stretching, pondering, remembering.

*coffee on the back deck with my husband in the mornings, drinking, talking, laughing.

*writing, creating, going with the flow...brain rapid and time passes.

God is good all the time, isn't She?

Gathas

Gathas are short verses to recite to help us be mindful during daily activities. By making us more aware of each action, they are an exercise in mindfulness and poetry. They are similar to affirmations. Here are a few for your day...

Waking Up

Waking up this morning, I smile.

Twenty-four brand new hours are before me.

I vow to live each one in mindfulness

and to look at all being with eyes of compassion.

Washing Your Hands

Water flows over these hands;

may I use them skillfully

to preserve our precious planet.

Brushing Your Teeth

Brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth,

I vow to speak purely and lovingly.

When my mouth is fragrant with right speech,

A flower blooms in the garden of my heart.

Before Picking Up the Telephone

Words can travel across thousands of miles.

May my words create mutual understanding and love.

May they be as beautiful as gems,

as lovely as flowers.

Car

Before starting the car,

I know where I am going.

The car and I are one.

If the car goes fast, I go fast.

Food

This food is the gift of the whole universe—the earth, the sky and much hard work.

May we live in a way that makes us worthy to receive it.

May we transform our own unskilled states of mind and learn to eat with moderation.

May we take only foods that nourish us and prevent illness.

We accept this food so that we may realize the path of understanding and love.

Mindfully, Rev. Donna