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How Do I Listen to God? by Sheila Harrington
I find that this involves a long process of preparation, with little immediate assurance that I'm making contact. I believe that God is more, more everything, than the human mind can comprehend. And, his ways, his timetable, are essentially a mystery. So what I can do is follow the paths of those who have gone before, and have faith that my efforts will be met by his loving presence.
First, I try to clear my mind of the static that keeps me bound up in the daily business of the world. On good days, I can just find a quiet place, breathe in and then breathe out slowly, relax, and visualize a shower washing the debris of my mind down the drain, so that my mind is cleansed and available for new thoughts, new possibilities.
On not-so-good days, when the mind is a 3-ring circus, the process is longer. I find a reasonably quiet place, put pen to paper, and write whatever comes into my mind, hoping that the anxieties, fears, anger, whatever, will leak out of the pen onto the paper. I check my health, getting in touch with each part of my body from my feet to my head. Am I physically in pain? I add those thoughts to the paper. Then I call a good friend whose spiritual path I admire and read my paper to her. I do this partly to vent and partly as a reality check. How have I contributed to this anxiety, fear, anger, whatever that's clouding my mind. Is any physical pain that I feel something I need to acknowledge, to handle, or to report to a professional?
With things somewhat clarified, I ask God to remove the anxiety. I ask for help in dealing with whatever I have done, whatever I have left undone, and with whatever problem that has contributed to my distress. Then, I thank God for the help that I know will come.
At some later time, I start the slow breathing and, with my newly cleansed mind, ask God to guide my path. Then I wait … until the peace that passes all understanding descends.
After that, I can go on my way, confident that in the days to come a thought will come to me that I've never thought before, or all of a sudden a verse that I've read a hundred times will shine with a crystal brilliance, or a friend will say something in passing and light will fill the room. And I will believe I have listened to God.
(Editor's Note: This article was written in response to a question posed in one of the women's groups that emerged after last year's women's retreat. In sharing it here, we are encouraged to answer this question for ourselves. Anyone who wishes to share his/her response is encouraged to do so, which we will print from time to time in the Ebb & Flow. Sheila Harrington is a Vestry member and currently, Director of the Altar Guild.)
Copyright © 2002 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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