Part 1: When No One Wants to Hang Out with Me
Lisa Ash Drackert of Kansas City, MO, USA
Community of Christ, a divine vision is set before you. Presented over the years through various inspired phrases and symbols, it is expressed now through initiatives in harmony with Jesus Christ’s mission. As a spiritual venture, boldly follow the initiatives into the heart of God’s vision for the church and creation. Then, in response to growing insight about God’s nature and will, continue to shape communities that live Christ’s love and mission. Lovingly invite others to experience the good news of new life in community with Christ. Opportunities abound in your daily lives if you choose to see them. Undertake compassionate and just actions to abolish poverty and end needless suffering. Pursue peace on and for the Earth. -Doctrine and Covenants 165:1a-d
My husband and my parents were out of town. My private client canceled at the last minute and my dinner plans with girlfriends fell through. I had zero plans after 12:15 p.m. on a Saturday.
Immediately, my brain started its persistent forecasting, planning, and scheduling: I should call Katie and see if she wants to hang out, and if that doesn’t work I’ll invite her to brunch tomorrow, and if that doesn’t work I’ll just show up at her work and beg to take her to coffee… and if that doesn’t work I’ll put an ad on Craigslist for someone to PLEASE hang out with me and distract me from all that is going on in my life/brain/heart these days. And also … I have a HUGE email list and housework list and gardening list that I should tackle.
Instead, I sat on my back porch, ate hummus, and listened to squirrel chatter. I did nothing.
It was glorious…for about 8.3 minutes. Then I was ambushed by an undeniable urge to do something and be ultra-productive.
The idea of spaciousness (kha in Sanskrit) is a valuable idea in yoga philosophy. Kha denotes the spaciousness and the quality of the heart/mind (citta) and determines how we interact with experiences in our daily lives. When we feel like our minds/agendas/brains are crowded with “too much” and “you need to” we feel confined, trapped, overwhelmed. When we feel like our minds are spacious, we feel free.
Used with permission and adapted from http://lisaashyoga.com, xc2xa9Elizabeth Marie Ash Drackert
Prayer Phrase
I surrender into your love.
Spiritual Practice
Centering Prayer
Set a timer for 20 minutes. (If that feels like too much at first, choose a time that will be comfortable for you as a starting place, committing to expand that time in future prayer.) Allow the rhythm of your breath to draw you deeper and deeper into silence. As you breathe, claim one sacred word (Christ, peace, grace, trust, etc.) emerging in you as an anchor to return you to the intention of your prayer when your thoughts begin to wander. Gently release the thoughts and images that come, making space for presence to the One who is with you here and now. Release, return, “be vulnerable to divine grace” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:10b).
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
