Welcome.
My name is Paul Williams and I'll be your guide in this Lectio Divina contemplative practice.
Take a breath and let yourself arrive.
In the ancient contemplative tradition,
Long before microphones or manuscripts,
Long before our rushed and restless kind of living,
The people of God would gather around scripture with a listening heart.
They approached the word not as analysis or to control it,
But to receive like rain,
Like light.
This way of prayer came to be known as Lectio Divina,
Meaning the sacred reading.
It is slow.
It is gentle.
It is a way of letting the word of God read you.
Here,
We listen with our whole being.
We allow God's voice to echo where our thoughts fall quiet.
We allow the shepherd to speak into our valleys,
Our pastures,
Our shadows,
Our longings.
And today,
We come to Psalm 23,
The ancient song of trust,
The psalm that has carried the weary,
The wandering,
And the wounded for centuries.
It is the voice of the soul resting in the presence of the shepherd.
As we enter this meditation,
Let your heart soften.
Let your breathing deepen.
Let the noise fall to the edges.
And let yourself become open,
Not striving,
But receptive.
The shepherd is already here.
You are simply turning your face toward him.
Lectio Divina unfolds in four movements,
Like the gentle rise and fall of breath.
The first,
Lectio,
Simple hearing the word,
Not analyzing,
Not interpreting,
Just letting the scripture wash over you.
The second,
Meditatio,
Letting the word touch you,
Noticing a phrase or image that seems to shimmer,
Something that speaks to your inner life.
The third,
Oratio,
Responding from the heart,
Speaking with God,
Whispering your desire,
Your gratitude,
Your confession,
Your longing.
The fourth,
Contemplatio,
Resting,
No asking,
No effort,
Just union,
Just presence,
Just you and the shepherd in silent love.
We will move through these slowly,
With room for breath,
Stillness,
And listening.
This meditation is designed for approximately 20 minutes.
Take your time.
Let nothing be hurried.
Find a comfortable position,
Seated or lying down.
Allow your shoulders to loosen.
Release your jaw.
Let your breath fall naturally.
We begin.
A slow inhale.
A slower exhale.
Another inhale.
And a gentle release.
Let your awareness drop from your head into your chest,
From your chest into your belly,
From your belly into the quiet center of your being.
You are safe here.
You are held here.
And now,
We open the scripture.
Psalm 23.
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside the still waters,
He restores my soul,
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His namesake.
Yea,
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
For You are with me.
Your rod and Your staff,
They comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil,
My cup runs over.
Surely,
Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Let these words settle.
No effort,
Just listening.
Mediatio,
Second reading and reflection.
Listen again,
Slowly.
Notice what stirs.
Notice the phrase that seems to rest upon your heart.
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside the still waters,
He restores my soul,
He leads me in paths of righteousness for His namesake.
Yea,
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
For You are with me.
Your rod and Your staff,
They comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil,
My cup runs over.
Surely,
Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Now gently notice which phrases call out to you.
Which words shimmered.
Which image lingered.
Do not force an answer,
Simply notice.
Oratio,
Prayerful response.
Now,
Let your heart respond.
If the phrase was,
He restores my soul,
Tell Him where you feel worn or weary.
If the phrase was,
You are with me,
Tell Him where you long for His nearness.
If the phrase was,
My cup runs over,
Offer gratitude for what is overflowing.
If the phrase was,
I shall not want,
Bring before Him the places where you feel lack,
Speak honestly.
There is no performance here,
Just you,
And the Shepherd who knows you by name.
Let your heart lift its prayer now.
Could templatio rest in God?
And now,
Let all words fall away.
No asking,
No trying,
No doing.
Simply rest.
Let Him hold you.
Let Him breathe around you.
Let Him love you without condition or fear.
Rest now in silence.
Rest.
Closing reading.
Listen one more time.
Let this be a blessing over your day,
Your night,
Your path ahead.
The Lord is my Shepherd.
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in palms of righteousness for His namesake.
Yea,
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
For You are with me.
Your rod and Your staff,
They comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil.
My cup runs over.
Surely,
Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Forever.
Take one last slow breath in.
And a gentle breath out.
And when you're ready,
Slowly return to your surroundings.
Open your eyes softly.
Let your spirit remain quiet,
Grounded,
And aware of the Shepherd's nearness.
