Meditation Instructions for Sun., May 28, 2017

For this Sunday, May 28th, the focus for our meditation will be on Honor.  Lieutenant Colonel James “Nick” Rowe was a U.S. Army Special Forces officer who was one of only 34 military personnel to escape captivity during the Vietnam war.  Held in deplorable conditions and continually subjected to physical and psychological abuse, his indomitable spirit was never broken by his captors.  He endured captivity for five years and had successfully duped the Viet Cong into believing he was a mere engineer assigned to build bridges and other infrastructure improvements for local villages.  In truth, he was a West Point Academy graduate and Green Beret well trained in multiple disciplines including intelligence work.  After five years of refusing to cooperate, his captors received information researched by anti-war groups in the U.S. revealing his true background.  Incensed by his deception, the Viet Cong were taking Nick to another location for execution when he miraculously managed to escape and was rescued by a U.S. Army helicopter.  During his captivity Nick wrote the following poem:

To bargain for this life of mine when the price you ask

Requires of me to verify a lie

And sell my Honor short,

Makes clear the choice between the two;

A life with Honor, a life without;

With me, you see, life without Honor is no life at all.

Nick continued to live his life with Honor.  Having survived five years as a prisoner of war, Nick ultimately lost his life years later when assigned to Manila as a military liaison officer where he was assassinated by terrorists.  The manner in which he conducted himself served as an inspiration for anyone who ever came in contact with him and learned his story.  This week as we commemorate the Memorial Day holiday and our remembrance of those whose lives were lost in the line of duty let us pause to think how best to Honor their sacrifice.  May we consider in what way do our words and actions bring Honor to ourselves, others we care about and our country?  Let us be inspired to always conduct ourselves with Honor and in raising ourselves up may we collectively elevate this great nation.

In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Just as before, begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it.  Raise this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country.  From shore to shore and border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live across its vast lands. 

Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us, and connect to the circle of others participating in this project.

Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I Honor those who have made sacrifices for others?  How does it feel in my body when I recognize the importance of living with Honor in all that I do?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.

Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.

If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., May 21, 2017

For this Sunday, May 21st, the focus for our meditation will be on Generosity.  When we think of Generosity the most common interpretation is in the sharing of monetary wealth.  Yet there are other, equally valuable ways we can be Generous with others.  I had the great privilege to work during two different assignments with a gentleman I considered to be my all-time favorite boss.  He was a kind, considerate man who spoke eloquently but direct and to the point.  Whenever anyone would enter his office he would always ask them to take a seat in a chair placed not across from his massive desk but near the front corner.  Sitting there with no intervening furniture as an obstacle he would focus his thoughtful eyes on his employee and make them feel as though they had his complete attention.  He was exceedingly Generous with his time and patience and no matter how busy I’m sure he was you always got the impression he wanted to hear what you had to say.  His manner made me feel valued and went a long way to motivating me to always do my very best for him.  In this highly distracted digital device age we want to remember how important it is to be Generous with our attention and truly listen to others when we engage them.  By taking the time to be fully present in the conversation and to receive what they are saying with non-judgment it frees the other person to speak more honestly.  If only our interactions with others followed this guiding principle more often just think how much better our communication would be and lead us to a deeper appreciation of each other.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider in what ways might we want to improve our Generosity by giving our full time and attention to those we encounter.  Let us ask to be gently reminded to be present for those we are trying to listen to and be willing to receive their message with understanding and compassion for them as an individual and fellow human being.  Similarly, may this same spirit of Generosity spread across this entire nation and permit the free and honest exchange of information through our willingness to give others the consideration of our time and attention.

In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Just as before, begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it.  Raise this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country.  From shore to shore and border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live across its vast lands. 

Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us, and connect to the circle of others participating in this project.

Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I have experienced others being Generous with their time and attention in really listening to what I have to say?  How does it feel in my body when I take the time to be fully present for others and extend to them the Generosity of my ability to listen objectively?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.

Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.

If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., May 14, 2017

For this Sunday, May 14th, the focus for our meditation will be on Obstacles.  I’ve previously used quotations from the Franciscan friar and author, Richard Rohr.  He is one of my favorite writers, and I love the deep mysticism and beauty in his work.  He once wrote, “Faith is not for overcoming Obstacles; it is for experiencing them – all the way through.”  What a unique perspective on the challenges we inevitably face in life.  Rather than seeking to plow our way to conclusion and thereby be rid of the often uncomfortable trials they create Obstacles may be put in our path to teach us lessons.  We want to reconsider our impatience with wishing them to be resolved as quickly as possible and instead consider why they are present and what we can learn from them.  There have been times in my life when Obstacles have popped up and despite my initial frustration at their appearance they usually ended up forcing me in a direction I never would have considered taking.  In the second half of my career with the government I was in a job I absolutely adored.  It was intellectually stimulating, I had tremendous respect for the colleagues I worked with, and I was fairly autonomous in managing my work projects.  Unfortunately, in a well-meant but poorly thought out decision senior officials chose to abolish the office to which I was assigned as a cost-cutting measure.  It required me to seek another assignment which ultimately ended up being immensely helpful when I soon afterwards chose to leave government service and enter the private sector.  However, I never, ever would have wanted to leave the job I loved if this unforeseen Obstacle had not been placed in my path.  In the end, it worked out well – even better than I ever could have expected.  I could have continued to chafe at the reassignment and become bitter and resentful, as did some of my colleagues.  However, I chose instead to see the Obstacle as presenting me with an opportunity to further develop myself.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us examine what Obstacles may be present in our life and how they may be beneficial rather than detrimental.  Let us ask when Obstacles occur to be given the patience to accept them as a positive challenge and the foresight to recognize the prospect for growth they can bring.

In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Just as before, begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it.  Raise this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country.  From shore to shore and border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live across its vast lands. 

Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us, and connect to the circle of others participating in this project.

Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I encounter an Obstacle that ultimately leads me in a different direction?  How does it feel in my body when I choose not to resist Obstacles but to eagerly seek the lessons they bring?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.

Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.

If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com

Meditation Instructions for Sun., May 7, 2017

For this Sunday, May 7th, the focus for our meditation will be on Redemption.  Tom Ryan is the author of a bestseller titled, “Following Atticus,” which details his relationship with a dog and their hikes across the peaks of the White Mountain range in New England.  He recently released a new book, “Will’s Red Coat,” which he characterizes as a story of Redemption about a different ailing, older dog he adopted to provide some comfort at the end of his life.  When Will entered Tom’s life he wasn’t sure if it would be for a few days or a few months.  The dog was deaf, mostly blind, and in terrible condition that left him physically hobbled and in pain.  Initially, his disabilities and discomfort caused him to react to his circumstances with anger and fear, and he lashed out many times toward Tom.  Over time, however, a change occurred, mostly as a result of Tom’s patient care and understanding.  Eventually, Will chose to live again, and ending up enjoying life with Tom for two and a half years before his passing.  That opportunity to be Redeemed is a choice Will had to make – it was not something anyone could do for him.  He could have chosen to remain angry and fearful, but instead he gradually accepted the offering of Tom’s love.  I believe Redemption for human beings is similar – it is not done to us by others but is a conscious decision we must make for ourselves.  Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins, but I also believe that we must enter acceptance of that offer of Redemption consciously.  There is a responsibility on our part to recognize our shortcomings and reach out to receive the opportunity for salvation.  It is not forced upon us.  The first, and perhaps most important, step is to acknowledge we are in need of Redemption.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us consider where we are weak and have fallen short, not to chastise ourselves but to charitably embrace our humanness.  As we accept our flaws may we also be thankful for the various opportunities we are given for Redemption that allow us to more fully put the past behind us and move forward in grace. 

In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation.  As we perform our meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create.  Just as before, begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it.  Raise this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country.  From shore to shore and border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who live across its vast lands. 

Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us, and connect to the circle of others participating in this project.

Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I have experienced a Redemption for mistakes I have made?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to see my shortcomings and appreciate the opportunity for Redemption?  Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.

Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.

If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com