Matthew 13

 You think religion is irrelevant?  Well think again.  The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 13 is in the works.  What does it say?  “To them that have much, more will be given; while to those who have little, even that which they have shall be taken from them.”  Maybe the 1% rich are reading the Bible?  

Mending

 The word “remember” has a root meaning in “to mend” as in to sew something that has been torn or damaged.  Something in my life might have become torn.  The heart gets “torn” by a hurtful incident in our life.  The heart needs to be repaired, or sewn back together again.  It needs mending, but sometimes we tend to put off the mending just as we might put off sewing a button that has become loose or torn off.  It is not a matter of forgetting, for who can forget a broken or torn heart.  It is a matter of procrastination.  My prayer life is in part to keep me sewn together because daily life can pull me apart sometimes.  

The Child

 A child is often curious about new things.  A child is less demanding when it comes upon something new or puzzling.  Curiosity keeps the child engaged without demanding that something be labeled or identified.  A child realizes that it is a newcomer to what it does not know.  It examines, waits, maybe asks questions.  On my good days, I am child-like with God.  Each day is new for me.  Yesterday is over.  Meditation keeps me open to the now, the new, the unexpected.  

The Smoldering

 Moses came upon a burning bush.  It was the presence of God in the Bible.  Well, I think everywhere I am is the presence of God, Power, if only seeming to smolder and be unnoticed.  But if I can breathe the breath of silent meditation I have found that the smoldering does become a fire in my heart and energizes me to be my best during that day.  Then there become times as I am going about my day, and I come upon the realization that I am on holy ground, be it a nature scene, a grocery line, a meeting of friends, or just walking about.  

The Frequency

 Old car radios and old sound systems had to mess round with the dial to get the correct frequency.  Sometimes, a clear sound changes depending on where I am.  Well, God has a frequency that is rather consistent no matter where I am, or you are.  It is silence, the frequency of quiet.  God is always on that frequency.  Meditation tries to tune into it.  

The Past

 One of the ways to wallow in the past and skip the present is to stay with guilt feelings.  You are guilty for what you did.  Guilt does not change the past, nor does it energize you to act in the present.  Catholics go to confession to get rid of guilt, but it does not change the past.  An amendment is an action one can do in the present time.  Sometimes you need to make an amendment to yourself if you have done some self-harm.  Then do something that brings you some wholeness or repair.  People who slip in their addiction need action in the present time and if they have been in Recovery they know what that is.  The past is done.  Guilt just relives it and that is fantasy.  

As Yourself

 The saying goes, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”  That is, remember to fill up your own strength so that you can help others.  You cannot give water from an empty tank.  So I try to do my meditation early and whatever other spiritual practice so that I am able to help my neighbor.  When I am cranky, I am not much good for helping others.  Putting off self-care does not do much for anyone else.  I have seen people do the right and helpful thing but from anger and resentment.  Who needs that?