So often we move through life.
Getting too caught up with the expectations of the world,
Or even just expectations of our loved ones.
And even if their intentions are good,
They might not be necessarily for us.
And so we'll often go into prayer and sort of have those words and those expectations color our ability to see.
And that even can affect what might actually be revealed.
In our everyday life.
In other words,
We might be looking in one direction,
But our purpose,
Our meaning is being revealed in a place that is unexpected.
And so Isaiah 48 kind of taps at that,
The ability to break out of those molds and see where something new might be.
Sprouting.
So let's sit down and.
Contemplate.
A different rendering,
A more contemplative rendering of Isaiah 48,
Six through seven.
Maybe take some deep breaths in.
And then saw it out.
And obviously,
These first few moments in any sort of meditation is that transition from an outward looking into an inward looking.
So we take a few more breaths in and just sigh it out,
Noticing the breath.
Maybe your heart beats.
Maybe the feeling of grounding in your sit bones if you're sitting.
Or maybe if you're lying down,
Just feeling the soft support of the floor or your bed.
Just noticing.
The here and now.
And so I'll repeat this verse a few times just so you can pause and just kind of savor something that might be sprouting deep within you.
So listen closely.
You have heard many things before.
But now,
Pause.
Let the listening go deeper.
God says,
I am showing you something new.
Not an echo of old words,
Not a familiar pattern,
Not what you expected.
This understanding was not available to you before this moment.
Because it belongs to who you are becoming,
Not who you were.
Let it calm gently.
Without grasping.
Without claiming.
Simply receive.
And so just sit with that for a few moments.
So let's hear the words again,
And maybe this time you hear something different.
Or maybe just a word or a phrase really bubbled up in you.
An image or a deep-seated feeling might come.
So it's here.
You have heard many things before.
But now,
Pause.
Let the listening go deeper.
God says,
I am showing you something new.
Not an echo of old words,
Not a familiar pattern.
Not what you expected.
This understanding was not available to you before this moment.
This understanding was not available to you before this moment.
Because it belongs to who you are becoming.
Not who you were.
Let it come gently.
Without grasping.
Without claiming.
Simply receive.
So whatever really resonated with you,
Just sit with that for a few more moments.
And now let's listen for a third time.
You have heard many things before.
But now,
Pause.
Let the listening go deeper.
God says,
I am showing you something new.
Not an echo of old words,
Not a familiar pattern.
Not what you expected.
This understanding was not available to you before this moment.
Because it belongs to who you are becoming.
Not who you were.
Let it come gently.
Without grasping.
Without claiming.
Simply receive.
So as you hear these words.
Do you have any words for God?
Do you have any questions?
Let this.
Become some sort of prayer.
So now it's weave.
And so.
.
.
And the fourth movement in this prayer practice is receiving.
So maybe.
.
.
And the answer to your prayer comes.
And this is a few moments to fall back and rest in God.
And allow that stillness,
That inner silence,
That inner peace to come.
So as we search for any sort of meaning and purpose for our lives,
We recognize what has been freely given.
As gifts,
As talents.
And if it comes from God,
It is meant to serve the world,
Whether it is to spread peace,
Offer compassion or mercy.
Or maybe it's just.
.
.
Spreading a little bit of joy or kindness.
In your small interactions with the others you meet.
This day or the next day.
But as Isaiah reminds us,
It's important for us to keep our eyes open for those hidden seeds of God.
Where God plants and we are not seeing.
And it's important to also remember that God is always creating.
And even if something in your life seems to be falling apart,
It means that there is a seed growing somewhere else,
Unexpected.
So we don't cling to the past.
But instead look for the newness.
Look for what is happening in the eternal present.
And so sometimes.
An R.
Haste we might want the answers to come quickly.
But sometimes.
.
.
It takes a matter of time.
And undoing some of those crusty expectations that we've gathered through the years.
So be patient with God and be patient with yourself.
The meaning comes.
It is already here.
And take care of yourself.
