|
Day 26
He became hungry and wanted something to eat: and while it was being prepared he fell into a trance… Acts 10:10 The call of physical hunger can be insistent and urgent, leading us to drop everything to quiet the desire for food. And yet, as powerful as physical hunger is, feeding the spirit – entering into the presence of God - is really the most fulfilling nourishment of all. The inner desire for that food, however, is not as obvious. Its call is subtle - easily missed or mistaken for something else. When we are not attentive to the signs of a starved spirit, we are likely to charge forward without thought and find that our interior life’s energy is ebbing away. It is not difficult to recognize the spirit’s hunger, but it does require a certain wakefulness to our inner life. Just as the stomach growls when it wants food, the soul cries out in its own native language for the food of God. It is not a physical sound, but when our heart feels flat, when we feel overwhelmed by life, when we lack enthusiasm, when friendships seem too near or too distant, when sadness creeps in and finally takes over our mind and emotions, when nothing we do seems to flourish, or when the day-to-day activity of life feels like chalk on the tongue, our soul is screaming for food. To begin to hear the whispering whimper of the soul, try this: When someone is preparing dinner for you, or you are waiting at a restaurant for your meal to be brought to you, close your eyes and settle yourself in God’s presence. Beginning at the top of your head and going all the way down to your toes, imagine that God’s Spirit is tiptoeing through every part of your body and mind and soul giving it the nourishment that it needs. Slowly open your eyes. As you begin to eat your meal, notice the heightened awareness you have for the miracle of life. O God, turn my eyes inward so that I learn how to scan and tend my soul. These meditations by Renee Miller first appeared at explorefaith.org Please use the share button at the top to share with friends and loved ones. Thanks!
|
|