Immersion Sings...hush!!!

Over the weekend, I experienced "Immersion 2," the second "workshop" in the series for spiritual transfomation. This weekend's emphasis was on exploring and experiencing Holistic Spirituality. We did yoga, we witnessed Reiki, and in a very modified way offered and received Reiki. We explored dreams, and the mystics Hildegard and Julian of Norwich. And...we sang!

A joy of these weekends are our leaders, Karen and Trish. Among Karen's roles are pastor and spiritual director. Trish is also a spiritual director, and a singer/song-writer. She shares her musical gifts openly throughout the weekend. This weekend, one of the songs she shared was one based on a poem by Emily Dickinson. I believe she said it was by "Laboni" (or someone sounding similar?). It was a struggle for me to learn it, and I fought the notion of learning by rote (even though I used that all the time as a kids choral director!). However, it was suggested, that once learned, the song would be written on my heart! How true! Just out of the blue, I began singing it in the car yesterday...and had the thought that my girls would appreciate it! They loved it, particularly DD1. She wanted to keep singing it, and drove her papa nuts! Here it is, in word anyway! (I'll look up the actual poem later, and post it too!)

Hope, hope, hope
Is a thing with feathers
That perches in the soul.
And sings, sings, sings
A tune that can't be heard
And never stops at all.

It seems so simple, yet so profound.

Trish also sang something that touched me deeply, as my "focal prayer" for the weekend was a search for self-peace. In opening worship, we were asked to share a word or two that embodied our prayer. Mine? Be still! Trish's song:

Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I Am
Be still and know that I
Be still and know
Be still
Be.


I need to be still more, to make moments for holy ritual in the midst of everyday chaos. Sometimes, things feel so meaningless and overbearing. Then, I must be still. Then I must just be. Then I must rest. In so doing, I need to let thoughts go. I love the imagery that was shared this weekend to help one quiet the deluge of thoughts that so often interrupts our efforts to be still. Imagine sitting by a stream, with a canopy of trees overhead. As the trees rustle in the breeze, a leaf floats down, lands gently in the stream and floats away in the current. Somtimes, the whole branch falls in, but not to worry: the stream is strong and will carry that away too! The leaves are our thoughts that pepper our consciousness with interruptions, sometimes when we don't want to be bothered. Like when entering into centering prayer, trying to sleep, trying to solve one particular dilemma, etc. I am a very visual person and often used guided imagery to help relax or focus. I know I'll use this!

Oh my gosh! I can't believe I'm finally on! I have had so much trouble getting to this dashboard so I could actually blog!!! There is so much going on in my life, and I really don't have time to go into it right now. More than the time factor, I don't have the energy or the heart. I'll just ask for your hugs and prayers right now. Suffice it to say that I feel very unsatisfied and unfulfilled at this point in my life. I know God is calling, but maybe I'm too scared to see the road clearly? Or maybe His call is part of my need to continue the practice of patience. I'm so much the "hurry up" and "I want to know tomorrow yesterday" type A personality. Hi. My name is Karla and I'm a control freak. But I'm completely out of control right now. Sigh... Well, not completely...it just feels that way. It's spring and I get into a funk every spring, because of triggers from the past that I still fall prey to. Okay, geesh, I feel so discombobulated with this. Don't ask what the point is. I'm not sure. If you find one, let me know. Please. Okay? Not sure if I'm going to leave this up. There's nothing real deep, or Godly, or holy, or mentally, emotionally, or spiritually uplifting or thought-provoking here. Just a rambling of my present self. Adios... And prayers with you too!