Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina,
Today on Psalm 25.
Recording outside,
I invite you to welcome the sounds of nature and of life as it passes by.
Allow these sounds to become part of the meditation rather than a distraction.
And as a way to prepare,
We're going to come to stillness.
You may want to close or lower your eyes.
And whether you're lying down,
Sitting in a chair,
Or somewhere else,
Orientate yourself to the space that you're in.
Feel yourself in the room,
Know yourself outside.
And have a sense of settling and sinking,
Allowing your body to become heavy,
To be held and supported.
Letting your shoulders drop,
Releasing any places of tension that you notice you're holding on to.
Slowly let your attention drift inward,
Aware of your breathing,
Taking a few deeper,
Wider breaths.
As you breathe,
When a distraction comes,
Observe it and let it go,
Returning to your breath,
Returning to stillness and rest.
Receiving the grace to be present here in this moment,
Nothing else demanded or required.
Know that you are met,
Joined in this moment with the beloved,
By the beloved's love and care and attention towards you.
Spend a few moments noticing how you come to this meditation.
How are you in this moment?
Acknowledge this with loving compassion and return again to your breath and to stillness.
I'm going to read this psalm twice and it's from Nan Merrill's book,
Psalms for Praying,
An invitation to wholeness.
On this first reading,
Simply let the words come as a gift without attaching to any in particular.
To you,
O love,
I lift up my soul.
O heart within my heart,
In you I place my trust.
Let me not feel unworthy,
Let not fear rule over me.
Yes,
May all who open their hearts savour you and bless the earth.
Compel me to know your ways,
O love.
Instruct me upon your paths,
Lead me in your truth and teach me.
For through you will I know wholeness.
I shall reflect your light both day and night.
I know of your mercy,
Blessed one,
And of your unconditional love.
You have been with me from the beginning.
Forgive the many times I have walked away from you,
Choosing to follow my own will.
I seek your guidance once again.
I yearn to know your peace.
Companion me as I open to your will.
You are gracious and just,
O Spirit of Truth,
Happy to guide those who miss their way.
You enjoy teaching all who are open,
All who choose to live in truth.
Your paths are loving and sure,
O Holy One,
And those who give witness to you through their lives are blessed beyond measure.
Yet all too often glorious gifts of grace,
Of love and light,
Are veiled by my busyness.
I bow down before you,
Instruct me that I might choose the way of love and truth.
I would live in your abundant love and my children as well.
Your friendship is offered to all whose hearts are open.
You make known your promises to them.
My eyes are ever on you,
Beloved.
Keep my feet from stumbling along the way.
Turn to me,
O Holy One,
And envelop me with your love,
For I am lonely and oppressed.
Relieve the blocks in my heart that keep me separated from you.
See all the darkness within me,
Fill it with your healing light.
Look at my pain and all my fears.
They shut out love and life.
Protect me and free me.
Let me not live as unworthy,
For I would return home to you.
May integrity and wholeness fill me as I dwell with you,
O loving presence.
May we together with the angels and the company of heaven help unfold your plan for planet Earth.
So as I read this psalm a second time,
Notice any words or phrases that capture your attention.
Receive them as a gift.
Receive their offering,
Their invitation.
Let them bring you what you need in this moment.
To you,
O Love,
I lift up my soul.
O heart within my heart,
In you I place my trust.
Let me not feel unworthy.
Let not fear rule over me.
Yes,
May all who open their hearts savour you and bless the earth.
Compel me to know your ways,
O Love.
Instruct me upon your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me.
For through you will I know wholeness.
I shall reflect your light both day and night.
I know of your mercy,
Blessed one,
And of your unconditional love.
You have been with me from the beginning.
Forgive the many times I have walked away from you,
Choosing to follow my own will.
I seek your guidance once again.
I yearn to know your peace.
Companion me as I open to your will.
You are gracious and just,
O Spirit of Truth,
Happy to guide those who miss their way.
You enjoy teaching all who are open,
All who choose to live in truth.
Your paths are loving and sure,
O Holy One,
And those who give witness to you through their lives are blessed beyond measure.
Yet all too often,
Glorious gifts of grace,
Of love and light,
Are veiled by my busyness.
I bow down before you.
Instruct me that I might choose the way of love and truth.
I would live in your abundant love and my children as well.
Your friendship is offered to all whose hearts are open.
You make known your promises to them.
My eyes are ever on you,
Beloved.
Keep my feet from stumbling along the way.
Turn to me,
O Holy One,
And envelop me with your love,
For I am lonely and oppressed.
Relieve the blocks in my heart that keep me separated from you.
See all the darkness within me.
Fill it with your healing light.
Look at my pain and all my fears.
They shut out love and life.
Protect me and free me.
Let me not live as unworthy,
For I would return home to you.
May integrity and wholeness fill me as I dwell with you,
O loving Presence.
May we,
Together with the angels and the company of heaven,
Help unfold your plan for planet Earth.
Do linger and stay with those words and phrases.
Re-listen if you want to.
And receive them as a gift.
May they be a blessing to you.
May they be grace and comfort.
May they bring you what you need today and in the coming days.
I offer my love and peace.
Amen.
You
