Positioning The Storm (Calm Beneath The Storm 02)

02 in the Calm Beneath The Storm Series. Based on Matthew 14:29-30, we ponder the importance of realising that the very nature of the surface is always to have movement, and what Peter's experience tells us about how we survive the storms. Thank you for joining us in this series.

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Transcript

Hello friends, This is Mark Gladman, Also known as Brother Frederick James, Your friendly neighbourhood monk in docks. Welcome back to the calm beneath the storm. Yesterday we began by noticing the storms that we are living within, And noticing that Jesus was there within them with us. Today we take a gentle step deeper. We begin to notice where those storms tend to live, And that is, They tend to live at the surface. So let's begin by settling again. Allow your body to come into a comfortable position, Your shoulders soften, Your hands rest easily, Take a slow deep breath in, And out. Feel your mind and your heart and your body come into alignment together. Find yourself arriving, Present, Here, In this moment. In the Gospel of Matthew, We're given the image of Peter stepping out onto the water. And for a moment he walks toward Jesus, But then the story tells us he notices the wind, He becomes afraid, And he begins to sink. Just hold that image in your mind for a moment, Peter standing on the water, The waves moving beneath him, The wind pressing around him. And then his attention shifts from Jesus to the movement of the storm. Now slowly let that image fade and bring your attention to your own inner experience. As you sit here, Notice what's moving within your mind, The thoughts that might be arising, The plans, The memories, The small worries, The distractions. As they come up, Don't stop them, Just notice them. Each thought, Again, Like a small wave forming on the surface of the sea, Rising, Moving, And then falling away. If a thought comes in and tries to pull your attention, Just gently notice it, And instead of following it, Just allow it to pass. Like watching a wave from the shore, You see it rise, It crests, And it dissolves back into the water. And another thought appears, Again, Simply notice it, Don't push it away, Don't hold onto it, Just let it move on. And this movement is the nature of the surface, And if you've ever watched the ocean, Or any body of water for that matter, You'll know this is true. It ebbs and it flows, Bobs up and down, Waves appear, Waves disappear, It's always in motion. And likewise, In us. Thoughts rise, Thoughts fall, Feelings shift, Reactions come, Reactions go, Nothing stays still for very long, Does it? So if we try to find peace by controlling every thought, Or resolving every feeling, We can become utterly exhausted, Because the surface is not where stillness lives. So for these next few moments, We practice something different. We simply watch. Allow your breath to remain soft and natural, And as thoughts arise, Silently name them lightly, Maybe thinking, Or worrying, Or remembering, And then let them pass, Without judgement, Without engagement, Just acknowledge them, And let them go. And you might even imagine yourself sitting beside the ocean or a body of water, Watching the waves come and go. You're not in the waves, You're simply aware of them. And if at any point you get carried away by a thought, That's okay. As soon as you notice, Gently let it go, And gently return, Back to the breath, Back to watching. And now just for a moment, Notice something subtle. If thoughts are like waves on the surface, Then there also must be something in you that is watching the waves, A deeper awareness, Quiet, Unsteady, Unmoved. Just allow yourself to sense that. Rest here for a few moments, Watching the waves, While remaining grounded in that quiet, Still awareness beneath them. And as we come to the end of our time, Take a slightly deeper breath, Feel the body again, The space around you, And gently return. And as you move through your day, You might return to this simple practice, Noticing thoughts as they arise, Letting them pass like waves. Knowing that you don't need to calm the surface, Just learn to see it clearly. And in time, You may begin to discover the deeper stillness beneath, Which is where we'll start to explore tomorrow. And until then, May all grace, Peace, And love be with you and go with you every step of the way, Today and always. Amen. God bless you, My friend. Bye for now.