Mama Monday #15

I am reading this beautiful book right now, and it's all I can do to not just skip all my work commitments and cozy up with this book all day. 

Last night, I read a passage about Padraig's time as a chaplain at the De La Salle Pastoral Center in West Belfast where he led day long retreats for schools. He talked about a simple prayer time that he shared with the students using the gift of imagination. It usually lasted only about 4-5 minutes total. 

In essence, this is what he invited them to do below, 

and I would encourage you to follow along with the invitation too: 

Imagine yourself taking a walk in a lovely place of your own choosing. 

Picture the scenery in your mind with the colors, sights, and smells around you. 

At one point on your walk, you see a stranger coming towards you, 

and on closer inspection, you realize it is Jesus. 

He greets you by your name: 

Janie...

and you all engage in a conversation. 

Imagine what you would say 

and then listen for Jesus' response.

As I was reading this last night, I closed my eyes and wandered into my own imagination. At first, I was walking on a trail in the Methow where all the sunflowers (balsamroot) grow in the spring and early summer. But then, I found myself walking by the lovely garden across the pedestrian bridge on 20th not far from our house, and I stopped by the gorgeous flowers our neighbor Susan has grown there for the enjoyment of us all. 

  

  

   

I did not have a clear picture of what Jesus looked like (but perhaps he has been disguised as Susan the magical gardener this whole time!), but I had a clear sense of the words I heard when I was listening in my conversation: 

So, with that, I will leave you with the translation from the Message of Luke 12 for this Mama Monday trusting that this will be a gift today for whatever you need:

Steep Yourself in God-Reality

22-24 He continued this subject with his disciples. “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.

25-28 “Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

29-32 “What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

33-34 “Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.