Monthly Reflection

The writer Esther De Waal in her book, The Celtic Way of Prayer, The Recovery of the Religious Imagination, offers these words at the end of her book:

“Blessings have run throughout this book….I realize that it is only now, in the context of praise, that I can fully realize what Celtic blessings are about. They do not beg God to give this or that. Instead, they recognize what is already there, already given, waiting to be seen, to be taken up, enjoyed. What a waste to go through life surrounded by all the good gifts that God showers on me, ‘gently and generously’ yet blind and deaf to his presence hidden in all things, human and nonhuman. As I learn not to take for granted, to wonder anew, I find that a constant attitude of gratitude is life-giving. In the face of such amazing grace and generosity, the only possible response must become that of continuing and ever-deepening praise.”

Included in the pages of her book are these blessings spoken at the outset of a new day and the start of a journey, however great or short the distance:

God, bless to me this day,
God, bless to me this night;
Bless, O bless, Thou God of grace,
Each day and hour of my life;
Bless, O bless, Thou God of grace,
Each day and hour of my life.

And this one for setting out on a journey:

Bless to me, O God,
The earth beneath my foot,
Bless to me , O God,
The path whereon I go;
Bless to me, O God,
The thing of my desire;
Thou Evermore of evermore,
Bless thou to me my rest.

May the year which you begin, be full of blessings.

(If your interest in Celtic Spirituality is awakened–come join us Feb. 7 for our Refreshment Day with the Rev. Lisbeth Hall!)

CHRISTMAS:
“So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.”
May we too follow the bidding of angels without fear and with haste make our way.
May the glory of our Lord and the peace of His Love bear you into new life this season.

ADVENT
In Advent, we gathered in various circles of retreats, groups, art exhibits, and worship — listening to the yearnings, movement, stirrings of this time in our world and lives.

On Sunday, Dec. 4 at the art exhibit opening of Illuminations, featuring works by Cathy Comstock, we were also blessed to have poets, Kimberly Green and the Rev. Peter Wenner, read some of their poems chosen or written for this season.

We hope they will draw you closer into the mystery of this time. We are so grateful for their presence as colleagues and for their gifts and offering. We are also thankful to Cathy Comstock for having her art among us which will be on exhibit through January.

Poem for Advent by Peter W. Wenner

Some Dogs by Kimberly Cloutier Green

Bus Stop by Kimberly Cloutier Green

We also offer a poem by Sofia Snow, one of the interns in the Life Together program. It was written here at Bethany while she participated in a recent Advent Retreat for Young Adult Life Together Interns. What better time to be nourished by words as they turn us toward the Word made flesh among us.

Freewrite Meditation Inspired by Luke 1

OCTOBER

In these last weeks at Bethany as those participating in various groups have come and gone and others have passed through our doors for spiritual direction, I have been moved by a kind of purity of heart that I have seen. I am not speaking of a false pietistic saintliness but of a kind of lovely humility, honesty, and openness.

Usually around now after submerging in fall schedules, people who come through our doors and sometimes we, ourselves, can seem overwhelmed, fragmented. I have to say, I have not seen that this fall. Maybe it is in the eyes of the beholder but I don’t think so. I trust that within many lives there is a quiet, curious, patient tender attention or a desire to be attentive to the needs of others and the creative energy deep within.

This fall in addition to our Contemplative Eucharist, our evening groups on Singing and on Poetry, our retreats, and Refreshment Days, we made a commitment to have a weekly time of gathering for Contemplative Prayer every Thursday morning from 10:00-11:30. On Thursday mornings, people have been coming, gathering in the side Chapel, clergy and laity, those familiar and new to Bethany. There can be found a quiet attentive readiness to be open to the biddings of the Spirit and to be upheld by companions in silence and prayer and reflection.

A few years ago, I heard a wonderful interview on NPR with the artist, playwright and performer, Anna Deavere Smith. She has called herself a portrait artist and she is. She has an extraordinary gift for listening to the voice, intonations, and stories of others and then has an uncanny way of bringing that person to life on stage. In the year 2000, she was invited by the Yale School of Medicine to interview patients and doctors. From that work, followed over 300 interviews on 3 continents and a production called “Let Me Down Easy.” She said, “it crept into my heart. Patients were so open.”

The interviewer asked her what sorts of things people might take away from the production. She responded, “It’s not so important what people take away. I believe people bring a lot—the life that is going on is complicated, there are wonderful things and not so wonderful things, they bring a lot and then a magical thing happens—something you say hits with what they have come with—that’s the power of the theater, the classroom” ..she said. We might add other places…”Something you say hits with what they have come with.”

Maybe you find her words true in the places of your life: in a conversation, a sermon you’ve preached or heard, a time of quiet or prayer, listening to music, artwork, being by ocean or green spaces. Here too, in a Contemplative Prayer circle, a Eucharist, spiritual direction, shared reflections in a Refreshment Day or Retreat, I know something of that happens here in our life with one another and God. Something is said or sung or prayed that meets with what we have come with even when we were unaware of that reality in us.

I encourage you to trust your quiet readiness, your purity of heart that responds to the cares of others while listening deep within.

What does your purity of heart look like? Where do you experience it and see it in others? How do you want to tend it?

If we might be a place to help you tend such openness, come be among us, we welcome you.
Julia Slayton
Executive Director
Bethany House of Prayer

Sermons given in St Anne’s Chapel in 2010:

On Forgiveness, given by The Rev. Eleanor Panasevich at Feb. 17 Contemplative Eucharist

On Healing & Compassion, given by The Rev. Susan Richmond at March 17 Contemplative Eucharist

Easter Sermon, given by The Rev. Dr. Charles Hefling on Easter Sunday 2010

Sermon given by Mary Meader to the Bethany House Board of Directors on 17 May

Previous reflections:

September Meditation
Summer Reflection 2011

Reflection by Susan Bates, Spring 2010

Easter 2009 Reflection by the Rev. Susan Richmond