For this Sunday, January 6th, the focus for
our meditation will be on Reinvention. Have you ever had the experience
of looking back at an earlier phase in your life and feeling as though the
person you were then was someone completely different from you? Not a younger you, not a less mature you, but
almost as though you are viewing an entirely different person? Sometimes life can bring about so much change
that we end up Reinventing ourselves.
These changes aren’t necessarily forced on us; sometimes they take place
willingly because of the growth we have undergone. We find ourselves desiring a change because we
want to better ourselves or eliminate bad habits. In some painful instances, however, these
changes can be thrust upon us less eagerly.
Michael Gates Gill (author of “How Starbucks Saved My Life”) was a successful
senior executive with a large New York City advertising firm who suddenly found
his life upended when he was fired. He floundered
for a couple of years and then at age 64 grabbed what felt to him like a lifeline
when a Starbucks store manager offered him a job. His new job was not as an executive but a
basic employee whose responsibilities initially entailed cleaning floors and
bathrooms and stocking shelves. He was
at such a rock-bottom point in his life that an opportunity that might have previously
felt humiliating caused him to completely change his outlook on life. By necessity, he Reinvented himself,
shedding the calloused, driven-to-succeed-at-all-costs persona and along the
way discovered life was better when filled with more humor, kindness,
understanding and respect for others. In
our prayer and meditation time let us consider whether there is a need to Reinvent
ourselves in some way. May we use this
contemplative practice to gain inspiration in identifying who we would like to
become. With a new year awaiting us, let
us ask to be gently guided in ways we might Reinvent ourselves so we, too,
may embrace more joy, kindness, patience and understanding in our life. Let us also ask that our nation and
especially our elected leaders find creative, cooperative ways to help Reinvent
our country so we may move beyond the mistakes of our past and make progress
toward a better future.
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 appreciate how
life circumstances have helped me to Reinvent
myself and produce a better me? How does it feel in my body when I look
back at my past in amazement at how far I have progressed and been able to successfully
Reinvent myself? 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
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