Begin by taking some deep breaths.
Closing your eyes and seeing if it's possible to really center yourself in the space you're in right now.
Say a prayer to God asking him to guide your awareness in this space and to reveal what he has for you right now.
I am inviting you now into a guided meditation centered in the Advent season.
But before we begin,
Likely you have parts that have come with you into this space.
In the midst of this season,
You may have parts that feel busy or rushed.
Maybe parts react to the word Christmas or Advent with a sense of stress or sadness.
Or maybe there is simply excitement.
Maybe you notice a sense of both overwhelm and anticipation.
Or maybe you find yourself a bit distracted.
Whatever is here,
Acknowledge it and then ask the parts connected to what you are noticing for a little space so that you can be fully present in this exercise right now.
And now I'm going to invite you to bring into your mind's eye an image of a manger scene.
Maybe close your eyes and see if it's possible just to really focus on the scene,
Noticing the details,
The people present,
Really just taking in the entire image.
Or you may find it helpful to pause the meditation for a moment and pull up on a screen a picture of an art image of a nativity scene that you can focus on and look at as a visual aid.
And now as you're focusing on the manger scene,
I'm going to invite you to put your attention on Jesus,
God incarnate,
Coming as a small,
Vulnerable baby.
Emmanuel,
God with us,
The light of the world.
As you focus on him,
I'm going to lead you to notice how different parts of you may be reacting to him and to the scene as a whole.
Take a moment just to notice and observe as likely different parts of you may have different reactions to Jesus,
Even if you are a person of deep faith.
So let's just notice who's here.
Maybe there is a part that wants to run to be near Jesus.
Maybe there's a part standing back as a distant observer.
Maybe there's a part that feels unworthy or a sense of shame.
Maybe there's a part that's distracted.
Maybe there are parts in awe.
Maybe there are parts who want to turn away or stand off in the distance.
I'm going to give you a few moments to sit and notice the various movements of parts within you responding to Jesus.
These parts will likely show up as emotions,
Internal impulses,
Thoughts,
Body sensations,
Or thoughts in your mind.
Take a moment to notice and identify the different parts of you.
And now I'm going to invite you to choose one part of you to spend a little time with right now.
Pick a part who is feeling something other than excitement,
Joy,
Or peace,
Such as a part that may be hesitant to be near Jesus.
And as you focus on this part,
See if it's possible to look at this part with an open heart,
Asking any parts holding judgment or corrective theology to soften back so that you can simply be curious and notice.
Where is this part in relation to Jesus?
If this part were to enter into the manger scene,
Where would it be?
What is this part doing?
What is its face expression like?
How old is this part?
Is the part saying anything?
What do you sense that this part is feeling?
And see if it's possible to move closer to this part,
Led by curiosity and an open heart.
If you notice any feelings that are not congruent with openness towards this part,
Ask them to soften back so you can really be present to this part from a place of love.
How is the part responding to you?
Let me ask the part if it's willing to share with you a little bit about itself.
Can you ask it how it views Jesus?
Does it know who he is?
What is it like for this part to see Jesus as a baby?
Ask the part to share with you a little bit about itself,
Its story as to why it is responding the way that it's responding.
Is there anything this part wants to show you?
And as you are learning more from this part,
Do you notice any beliefs that this part holds about itself or about Jesus that inform its response?
If so,
Ask the part where it learned those beliefs.
And how are you feeling towards the part now?
And now ask the part if it would like to turn towards the presence of God.
This could be an older version of Jesus,
God the Father,
Or the Holy Spirit.
As you prayerfully ask God to be near this part in the way the part needs him the most,
How is God responding to this part?
Is he saying anything?
Doing anything?
How is the part responding to God?
And as this is unfolding,
You might ask the part how it would feel about taking one small movement closer to the baby Jesus,
Maybe through turning towards him or taking a step nearer to him.
What is this like for the part?
And now before we close,
Spend a few more moments with this part,
Seeing what might be supportive of it moving forward,
Particularly during the Advent season.
Before we end,
Say a prayer for this part of you,
Asking God to continue to reveal himself to this part in ways the part can best receive him.
Thank the part for its willingness to be here with you in this space.
And then continue to breathe deeply as you gradually transition back to the outside world.
