Hello friends,
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighborhood monk in docks.
Welcome back to another installment of our series,
The Calm Beneath the Storm.
Over the past few days we've been gently descending beneath the surface.
We've noticed the waves of thought,
We've allowed ourselves to sink,
We've discovered the quiet and the deeper current beneath the storm.
And today we're turning our attention to something at the very heart of this journey.
The discovery that the deep isn't empty,
It is presence.
So let's begin by settling the body.
Allow yourself to become still,
Let your shoulders soften,
Let your hands rest gently.
Take a slow breath in and gently out.
Again,
Breathing in and breathing out.
And then allow the breath to become calm and natural.
And as you breathe,
Imagine yourself once more beneath the surface of the water.
The waves may still be moving above,
But here in the deeper water it's quiet and still.
And there's a true sense of being held.
Now in Colossians,
We hear St.
Paul use these words,
Writing,
In him all things hold together.
Just let that phrase rest gently in your awareness today.
All things.
As a lecturer of mine used to always say,
And in Greek,
All means all.
All things held together in Christ.
Now,
Bring your attention inward.
Don't go trying to analyze or search for anything,
Just become aware.
Now often when we enter stillness,
It can feel like we're entering empty space.
But gently notice there is already something here.
A quiet awareness,
A sense of being present.
And within that awareness we begin to recognize something much deeper.
Not just awareness,
But presence.
Now you don't need to imagine anything or create a feeling,
Just rest and gently allow this prayer to form within you.
Christ within.
And it's a simple breath prayer.
Breathing in,
Christ.
Breathing out,
Within.
As you pray this prayer,
Let the words be soft,
Almost like a whisper within the heart.
Christ within.
And as you remain here,
Allow yourself to be with Christ.
No striving or searching or trying.
Just being.
Christ within.
And if a thought pops up,
Just let it pass across the surface of the water into the distance.
But you remain here in the deeper water with Christ.
Notice the quiet steadiness of this presence.
It doesn't rush.
There's no demands.
This presence simply is.
Holding,
Sustaining,
Gently drawing you deeper and deeper into rest.
Let's just remain here for a moment,
Resting with Christ.
Now slowly bring your awareness back to your breathing.
Notice your body,
The space around you.
Take one more deep breath.
And when you're ready,
Allow your eyes to open.
And as you move into the rest of your day,
Carry that simple prayer with you.
Christ within.
Not just as a mantra that you can repeat,
But something you can return to.
Something to anchor you in the truth that Christ is truly with you.
Holding all things together right here in this moment.
This prayer is a reminder that peace,
The peace you're seeking,
Is never far away.
It is already present right there at the centre within you.
And may grace,
That peace and love hold you and sustain you through this day and every day.
Amen.
Until tomorrow,
My friend.
Peace be with you.
