June to July: Centering Prayer -> Keeping Sabbath

Some people had success with centering prayer and others did not.
Some long-time meditators in the group liked the Jesus prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner) while that prayer didn't resonate with others. We listened to the audio of the how-to video from Thomas Keating.
 

Centering Prayer Guidelines

Thomas Keating

Guideline 1

Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence and action within you. (Examples: Peace; Be still; Shalom; Jesus; I surrender; God is love)

Guideline 2

Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God's presence and action within. 

Guideline 3

When engaged with your thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.

We did centering prayer together. We found that Centering Prayer seemed more "successful" when done in a group, than when done at home. This is consistent with what we've discovered each time: our spiritual practices are better supported in community. We decided to include a time of centering prayer in our next session.

Thinking about Sabbath

In July we are talking about ch. 7, keeping the Sabbath, so, in the next couple of weeks, can you try to keep a Sabbath--even a half day (start small and work up?). What does it mean to you in your life to give up the busyness of the world and focus on rest and restoration and the holy?

Blessings on all of you as you travel and as you stay home and as you keep the Sabbath and a holy time for God in your lives.