The Inner Journey

Today's post is written by Janet Lott:

The Inner Journey

“Stand at the crossroads and look,

and ask for ancient paths:

where the good way lies; and walk in it,

and find rest for your souls.”  - Jeremiah 6:16          

We are nearing the end of the first week of Advent. What ancient paths have you found yourself upon this past week? Many of us have chosen to experience ancient spiritual practices such as seeing the Christ in each other, creating worship settings, diving with lectio divina, salving with centering prayer, jounaling, and experiencing the labyrinth. Many people have said that in being faithful to the inner journey their outer journey with the community is more whole and alive.

During the whole month of December, First Christian holds a labyrinth in the Fellowship Hall which is available on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to closing (except Dec. 9 when it is available from about 3:00 to closing). There are guides available at the entrance to the labyrinth to help your experience of it.

Here is a movement for the labyrinth, which may also be applied to our journeys in life, the big one that stretches over our lifetime and the small ones we have each day:

Prepare . . .

Prepare to be open to what you may experience on the path. Follow the path where it may take you.  Ask God to lead you, to go before you.

Enter . . .

Quiet your mind.  If you were to relax and trust the path you are on, what might you discover or learn? Listen. What do you want to say to God at this moment?

Center . . .

Being in the center is a time for praying, meditating and listening for clarity and insight into who God is calling you to be and do.  Be still in your soul. If you get distracted, it’s okay. God is ready at any time to offer gifts for you to receive and use in the world.

Go Forth . . .

With each step outwards, give time to consider what God has offered you during these last few moments. How will you integrate into your life what you experienced or heard?

Open yourself to letting God encourage and empower you to take on a larger life, a deeper life of action as a child of God.

In our Journey to Jesus this Advent, we move along this life-path with the one who said,

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart,

you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

– Matthew 11: 29-30

Consider Jesus’ burden being the kind of “light” that illuminates the path...