My house is very quiet these days! And, being a decided extrovert, I am sometimes uncertain about how to use all this quiet time! I love the Zoom church services and the Zoom meetings with various groups—most of them related to the church. I have also reached out to reconnect with friends that I have not been good at keeping up with.
But I find I can spend a long time looking inside myself, trying to make sense of what God may be doing with me in this period where many activities have been stopped in their tracks. Because I have a suppressed immune system from Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, I am being very careful about going out, and have kept myself at least six feet away from anyone else—including my daughter and grandchildren, who visit about every two weeks.
So I have been journaling—trying most mornings to set down anything that comes to mind, including questions to God.
I have also found solace in just beingl And in doing individual meditation, prompted usually by the Resources section on the Listening Hearts website,
listeninghearts.org
, called “Heartlinks.” One of my favorites is called Meditation on the Breath. It begins with getting comfortable, throwing shoes off and just becoming aware of my breath as it goes in and out of my nose. Centered around a Scripture verse, it goes on to making contact with my body, releasing the tension from my neck, moving down through my lower-back pain (from too much sitting) and on to my toes. A favorite Scripture can be used, or the one suggested: from Isaiah, “I make you hear new things, hidden things that you have not known.” Sometimes, there is an aha moment! Other times I am just able to relax in knowing that God loves me, and that I am likely exactly where I’m supposed to be!
On the website, there are also short meditations on light, water, a leaf, taking a walk, and dancing. Others require pencil and paper or colored pens or a, such as writing a hymn or a poem, creating a symbol, writing a letter to God, and drawing. Whichever I choose, I always feel refreshed and renewed!
I hope you will try it, too! Or find another source for mindfulness and meditation that incorporates both mind and body and puts you in touch with the Holy Spirit!
I will be very glad when life returns to normal. In the meantime, I will try to make the most of this quiet time!
Frances Sullinger
