Hello and welcome to Gattered Meditation in the Twelve Step Tradition.
Today we'll take time to constructively review our day.
Many have found this simple reflection helpful,
Examining and noting what events have passed without judgment and lifting up what is outside their control.
Know that it's impossible to have a bad meditation.
Your intention itself fosters growth one day at a time.
And the serenity and peace which you build moves forth to serve others.
Keep in mind there's no such thing as a bad meditation.
Your simple effort is in and of itself great service to yourself and others.
You're safe in this space.
We're taking time to foster conscious contact with your higher power whenever you conceive that to be.
Now let's begin taking a comfortable seated position if you aren't already.
Straight back,
Palms gently resting in your lap.
You choose you could lie down.
Remember that throughout all of this meditation practice and throughout our tradition,
Our goal is spiritual progress.
And I simply suggest that if you're distracted,
Bring your breathing and your focus back to being the center.
Taking three deep,
Deep breaths,
Simply set an intention,
Whatever your intention for today and this evening may be.
Breathing in,
We accept whatever this day brought us with gratitude.
Breathing out,
We're giving peace back to ourselves and to the world around us.
Without judgment,
We will constructively review.
As we retire,
We think to ourselves,
Breathing deeply.
Were we at all selfish or resentful,
Dishonest or afraid today?
Or possibly we owe someone an apology?
Have we perhaps kept something inside,
Kept something to ourselves which we could have or should have discussed with someone else?
Turning that around,
Where was God,
Our higher power,
In our actions today?
Where have we sensed that presence in being thoughtful,
Being loving,
Being considerate of others?
Where have we felt that Holy Spirit,
That sense of the divine working,
Small,
Tiny actions that we may have done?
Where we sensed,
This is right,
This is what I should be doing.
Again,
Breathing deeply,
Coming back to the center of our being.
Do we sense that presence even now as we lie down and prepare for rest tonight?
Perhaps we sense the absence of that presence at some times when we could have done something better or were thinking of ourselves.
Perhaps we sense what we could have been thinking or doing for others,
What we could pack into the stream of life.
Let us be careful not to drift into worry or remorse or any negative reflection,
For that only diminishes our usefulness,
Our usefulness in God's plan and our higher power's plan for us,
Our usefulness to others,
Any form of true service that we could be doing.
And coming back to our center.
After completing this review,
Spending time sensing,
Sensing where the Holy Spirit was present in our day,
If anything still lingers that feels tense,
That feels like it could be a source of frustration for us,
We try to let that go.
If needed,
We ask for forgiveness and inquire deep within,
Waiting patiently for an answer if any corrective measure should be taken.
Listening to that still voice.
Is there anything which perhaps we should do a little bit differently tomorrow that would bring us greater joy,
Greater connection,
Closer contact with our higher power?
Breathing deeply,
Coming back to our center.
We know that this is a moment to moment choice,
The only true time existing right here and right now in the present.
We'll try to stretch that forward to ever future moments of presence.
Hearing our soul's response more clearly each time that we take time to do a daily review.
You're welcome to extend this meditation in silence as long as you see fit.
We'll close with some silent sounds of the night.
Peace be with you.
