Meditation Instructions for Sun., February 23, 2020

For this Sunday, February 23rd, the focus for our meditation will be on Goodness.  I recently read about an account of a Jewish filmmaker named Gary Rhine after he visited the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem.  The experience shook him to his core and left him feeling utterly depleted and hopeless in the face of the unspeakable atrocities committed particularly against young, innocent children.  Confronting the presence of unquestionable evil in the world is disturbing.  We try to bring light into the world, and when we come face to face with heinous conduct it can leave us questioning whether we can ever win out over the darkness.  Rhine’s visit to the museum made him wonder, “if humanity is capable of such evil toward one another, what’s the use of working to make the world a better place?”  Fortunately, a few days later he reached an epiphany.  “The appropriate reaction to this experience was not one of giving up.  It was to double my efforts.  If humanity was capable of astounding evil, then it must also be capable of astounding Goodness and compassion.”  This realization motivated him to continue the fight against evil in his life’s work and to make sure others never forgot the dangers of allowing something like the Holocaust to occur again.  It is heartbreaking to hear instances of how prejudice, bullying, and intolerance can have such a devastating effect on the lives of our fellow human beings.  When confronted with this behavior our role is to follow Rhine’s lead and double our efforts at bringing more light and Goodness into the world.  Fighting evil by becoming angry and ranting about injustice accomplishes little.  Instead, let us work to strengthen our presence in the world and intensify the light we carry for that is what will ultimately force evil to wither away.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be shown how to be a strong, grounded presence of light and Goodness in the world.  May we be supported by Spirit in our desire to eliminate prejudice, bullying and intolerance by shining light where there is darkness and allowing Goodness to fill all corners of our existence so it leaves no room for evil in our wake. 

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 noticed how the presence of true Goodness can overcome any darkness that exists?  How does it feel in my body when I am able to amplify the feelings of Goodness that I carry into the world and brighten everyone I touch?  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., February 16, 2020

For this Sunday, February 16th, the focus for our meditation will be on Observation.  I’ve been reading a book on pilgrimage and was reminded by the author’s description of childhood road trips with his family that our mode of vacation travel has changed significantly.  When I was growing up my family would pile into the car for the long drive to visit family in other states.  Along the way we would play the license plate game, take in the scenery, and probably pester my parents.  Traveling by automobile allowed us to Observe more of the surroundings.  I would watch the passing environment and wonder to myself about the lives of the occupants of those homes or workplaces.  Who were they?  What did they do?  Who were their families or coworkers?  Details about the surroundings captivated my attention as we passed through different towns.  It wasn’t until I was heading off to basic training that I took my first airplane trip.  Today it seems family travel by plane is much more common probably owing to it being more affordable and the time-saving it generates.  The downside is you don’t receive the exposure to your surroundings as the metal tube hurtles through the air at 30,000 feet above the earth.  In the blink of an eye you are suddenly at your destination but have had little opportunity to take in much along the way other than stale airplane snacks.  Even in routine or local travel we can easily find ourselves on autopilot as we commute to or from work.  Our mind is occupied with the mental chatter that fills our day, and we don’t always pay attention to what we might otherwise be Observing in our surroundings.  How many times have you experienced such a drive and surprisingly found yourself pulling into your neighborhood realizing you have no recollection of much of the trip along the way?  We are missing out on so much that might otherwise enrich our daily experience when we fail to take notice of our surroundings.  In a training program I regularly present we show a video that demonstrates a concept known as “inattentional blindness.”  It shows how powerfully our brain works to filter out information we think is unimportant but can sometimes work too well and block out salient details we might otherwise want to Observe.  It takes conscious practice to become a better Observer, but the benefits are worth the effort.  Perhaps we will notice for the first time the ordinary people we obliviously pass by each day.  In taking the time to Observe our surroundings more closely we might see a person who is struggling, a child being bullied, or an animal in need of care.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be shown how to be better Observers as we navigate through each day.  Let us ask to be assisted in having our attention directed to what would be most valuable for us to Observe in that moment, and through an increased power of Observation may we come to feel more connected to others in our environment.

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 am able to clearly Observe all that is going on in my surroundings?  How does it feel in my body when I sharpen my powers of Observation and take notice of all in my environment that enriches my life?  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., February 9, 2020

For this Sunday, February 9th, the focus for our meditation will be on Privilege.  It is hard for me to comprehend how or why people obtain Privilege merely through the color of their skin or where they were born.  However, real-life experiences certainly validate this is the case.  Recently there was an incident caught on video where a white woman accosted two other women who were speaking a foreign language while shopping in a store.  She began to verbally harass them until another shopper, also a white woman, stepped in and began to chastise the harasser.  By exercising what is called “white Privilege” this woman spoke out in defense of others who were being verbally assaulted because of their ethnicity.  It quickly shut the other woman down who stopped her harassment and left.  Think this is just an isolated incident?  Martin Niemöller, a German pastor during World War II, is famously quoted as having written the following: 

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

His comments were in response to the disturbing spread of Nazi dictatorship and are timeless in their reminder to us all to use our Privilege to defend others who are being oppressed.  I recall another instance reported on social media where two women of different ethnicities but related by marriage happened to go through the same checkout register in a store where they had been shopping.  The first woman, who was Caucasian, had a smooth checkout experience.  The second woman, a woman of color, was asked to provide identification.  They both used the same method of payment, but only one was asked to validate her identity before the credit card would be accepted by the clerk.  Fortunately, the first woman spoke up in defense of her sister-in-law and began to ask the clerk why she had not asked her for proof of identify.  It was a teaching moment that made obvious the role of prejudice, whether conscious or unconscious, on the basis of race.  The woman of color later remarked how grateful she was to her family member for exercising her Privilege to speak out on her behalf.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to be given the courage to exercise our Privilege to defend others.  May we be shown when and how to speak out and let others know their intolerance is not acceptable in this society, and may our willingness to use our Privilege in defense of others encourage more people to do the same.

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 Privilege that may not have been readily granted to others?  How does it feel in my body when I am willing to use my Privilege to stand up for others?  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., February 2, 2020

For this Sunday, February 2nd, the focus for our meditation will be on Courage.  It takes Courage when we experience a disappointment or setback in life to be able to keep on going.  Failures are inevitable, even for the most successful people.  They likely didn’t achieve what they did without a lot of lessons learned from failures along the way.  What distinguishes those who ultimately overcome their challenges and those who give in to defeat is the Courage to pick up and carry on.  Whether you place your trust in God or believe in yourself, or perhaps some combination of the two, it is up to you to find the strength to move beyond letdowns and keep going.  I believe what motivates us to take those first few steps out of failure is understanding we are the ones who must act; we can’t passively sit back and wait for success to be dropped in our lap.  When we “let go, and let God” in the process we acquire the Courage needed to step off into the unknown despite the feeling that we are unsure of which direction to take.  There is a sense of blind trust that we will be guided along our journey, even though we may not be able to see where we are going.  When we give up and don’t bother to try again is when the impediments hold dominion over us.  This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask for the Courage to move beyond disappointments and failures.  Let us ask to be guided and supported in our journey so we can summon the Courage to keep on going even if we are unsure of what lies ahead. 

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 found the Courage to move beyond my mistakes and failures?  How does it feel in my body when I appreciate the Courage it takes to keep on going when I have fallen?  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