Labyrinth, Reflections, Puddles

I invite you to pause for a moment and take some time for some contemplative play.

Start by letting this image fill your mind as you focus on your breath and letting yourself slow down into this time and this space.  Letting your breath and this picture be all that you attend to right now.

Photo courtesy of Yvonne Hanning

What is your initial reaction to this picture?  Look again - what is your next reaction?  Why might you experience this picture in these ways.

Consider these questions also:

What do you see?
What colors stand out to you? Why?
What does your imagination do with this picture?
What words come to mind?
What favorite quotes from your favorite spiritual literature come to mind?


I invite you to join in conversation with me in the comments below what has come of your contemplative play time today.

Inner Child

You said, "Let the little children come to me."

I wonder when I lost sight
of my own inner child
and silenced her
in the interest of being
"fully adult" and grown up.

When I set her aside, I lost touch with
     Wonder
     Awe
     Simplicity
     Genuine Acceptance

In setting my inner child aside
I have allowed myself to
complicate much
and lose part of my complete self.

You said, "Let the little children come to me."

Today I hear this as a call to
let my own inner child come out to play.

To encourage her to rejoin
my adult self and bring with her
all the wonder, awe, simplicity and acceptance
she has to give me.

And with this I hope I might see fully again.
AMEN.

Breaking Through

I invite you to pause for a moment and take some time for some contemplative play.

Start by letting this image fill your mind as you focus on your breath and letting yourself slow down into this time and this space.  Letting your breath and this picture be all that you attend to right now.

Are there place in your life where you need something to break through? What is that something?

Consider these questions also:

What do you see?
What colors stand out to you? Why?
What does your imagination do with this picture?
What words come to mind?
What favorite quotes from your favorite spiritual literature come to mind?


I invite you to join in conversation with me in the comments below what has come of your contemplative play time today.

Garden of the Heart

How does the garden of your heart grow?
Is it full of all that provides joy and beauty?
Is it free from the weeds of inattentiveness?
Do you regularly water it with times of quiet?

Is it fed with words that nourish and instruct?

Is the garden of my heart:
a place only for favorite things
or
am I willing to plant something new
that may be different or uncomfortable
but
promises great beauty, joy, hope peace.

Is the garden of my heart:
a place of welcome
a place that is open to all
who seek refuge or understanding
kindness,
belonging.

Is the garden of my heart
reflective of how you, God,
call me to live out Your command
to love others as I love myself.

Is it a place you, God, desire to dwell.

If not help me make it so.
AMEN.

Rush or Serenity

I invite you to pause for a moment and take some time for some contemplative play.

Start by letting this image fill your mind as you focus on your breath and letting yourself slow down into this time and this space.  Letting your breath and this picture be all that you attend to right now.

What do you experience in this picture: rushing rapids or a serene landscape of beauty and peace? What is it in your life that may be informing your response?

Consider these questions also:

What do you see?
What colors stand out to you? Why?
What does your imagination do with this picture?
What words come to mind?
What favorite quotes from your favorite spiritual literature come to mind?


I invite you to join in conversation with me in the comments below what has come of your contemplative play time today.

Dawn

Dawn breaks
and with it comes
Newness.

New opportunities
New insights
New possibilities.

New opportunities to
seek forgiveness
right a wrong
find restoration.

Dawn Breaks
A new day comes
and with it
a new opportunity to
walk in love and grace
as You call me to do
each new day.

Unexpected

I invite you to pause for a moment and take some time for some contemplative play.

Start by letting this image fill your mind as you focus on your breath and letting yourself slow down into this time and this space.  Letting your breath and this picture be all that you attend to right now.

What unexpected beauty is springing up in the landscape of your life?

Consider these questions also:

What do you see?
What colors stand out to you? Why?
What does your imagination do with this picture?
What words come to mind?
What favorite quotes from your favorite spiritual literature come to mind?


I invite you to join in conversation with me in the comments below what has come of your contemplative play time today.

Grace Gifted Words

Words dripping gracefully off the page.
Expressions of innermost thoughts.

Releasing my vulnerability
out to the world,
So that others may not feel
so alone.

Words enfolding my wear heart.
Expressions of grace to me by another.
Words wrapping my soul,
Reminding me i am not alone.

Words
Gifts of love and grace
coming in the form of poetry.

A gift of Divine inspiriation
To help connect us
one to another.

To connect us to the heart of God.

What do you see?

I invite you to pause for a moment and take some time for some contemplative play.

Start by letting this image fill your mind as you focus on your breath and letting yourself slow down into this time and this space.  Letting your breath and this picture be all that you attend to right now.

What do you see in the clouds? Why do you think you see that?

Consider these questions also:

What do you see?
What colors stand out to you? Why?
What does your imagination do with this picture?
What words come to mind?
What favorite quotes from your favorite spiritual literature come to mind?


I invite you to join in conversation with me in the comments below what has come of your contemplative play time today.