Comfortable seating position.
It's comfortable for you to have both feet on the ground.
Wonderful.
Allow the seat to care for you.
Be in this place.
Yes,
Maybe in these surroundings,
But also in your heart and in your mind.
Allow yourself to fully arrive in this moment.
And be here.
Be here now.
As you're finding your breath.
In this moment.
Allow the thoughts that you might have to come and go.
Welcome any feelings that you might be experiencing.
Allow them to come and go.
You are here.
In this place.
And just for a few moments.
You're allowing yourself to be in contact with your breath.
And most importantly.
In contact with God.
To begin our contemplation.
Take time for gratitude.
Appreciating the gifts that you've received.
Welcome that appreciation in your heart,
In your mind.
Recognize the feeling that comes up.
Allow that feeling to befriend you as you befriend whatever feeling that is.
Part of appreciation is certainly recognizing the gifts that you've been given.
And in the Christian tradition.
It's recognizing the giver of those gifts.
So dwell just a moment there.
In the gifts and the giver.
Now center yourself on God's grace.
The giver of those good gifts.
Allow God to be your companion.
On a short journey we're going to take.
In reviewing our week.
In the Ignatian spiritual tradition.
This is a vital part of recognizing how God has walked alongside.
Been on the journey with you.
In review of our day or our week or our month.
We take time to evaluate.
We take time to reorient ourselves.
To what has come.
Try for the next few minutes.
To reconstruct your week by reviewing it.
We take time to evaluate.
We take time to reflect.
We take time to reflect.
If your mind wanders or starts a little playlet.
Look at it with loving kindness.
Your mind is doing what it's created to do.
Create playlets and narratives and on the spot interpretations.
Welcome them.
And let them go.
Come back to your breath.
And come back to reviewing your week.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Whatever has occurred this week.
God has been.
Right beside you.
If something has come up during.
This short review.
A mistake or misstep or miscommunication.
Take a moment now to ask God for forgiveness.
Because God's grace is sufficient.
You are a forgiven.
And reconciled person.
So take the courageous step.
The life transformative step in this very moment.
To forgive yourself.
Come back to your breath.
This involuntary action of breathing.
Is a reminder.
Of God's.
Involuntary.
Unconditional love.
Of you.
I don't know about you but I don't ask for God's love in every moment.
But somehow.
In some way.
God has decided to love me.
Even without my asking.
God has decided to love even me.
Without me asking.
That is the definition of grace.
You are forgiven.
You are accepted.
You are loved beyond measure.
Just you.
As you are right here.
Right now.
You are loved for you.
We know this and have this assurance.
Because God put on body clothes.
And by putting on body clothes.
God told us.
In words.
In word.
In action.
And actions.
That God knows us.
Loves us.
And seeks us out to make us whole.
That's why we respond.
With a prayer.
That reminds us all that we're connected not only to God.
God's providence.
God's sustenance.
But also.
We are connected to one another.
We cannot.
Live in this world without one another.
So as a forgiven reconciled people.
Let us pray the prayer Jesus taught us to pray.
Our Father.
Who art in heaven.
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done.
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses.
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation.
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom.
And the power.
And the glory forever.
Amen.
Take as much time as you need to come out of this contemplation.
This safe space.
And go from this place whenever you're ready.
As a forgiven,
Loved and reconciled people.
Ready to show the world what love really looks like.
Go from this place.
May God be ever present in your life.
As close as your breath.
