July 2023 Week 3

Read the following quote and replace ME and references to ME with “time alone with you, time to listen to the intuitive quiet voice”

“Come away with ME for a while. The world, with its non stop demands, can be put on hold. Most people put ME on hold, rationalizing that someday they will find time to focus on ME. But the longer people push ME into the background of their lives, the harder it is for them to find ME. You live among people who glorify busyness; they have made time a tyrant that controls their lives. Even those who know ME as Savior tend to march to the tempo of the world. They have bought into the illusion that more is better: more meetings, more programs, more activity. I have called you to follow ME on a solitary path, making time alone with ME your highest priority and deepest joy. It is a pathway largely unappreciated and often despised. However, you have chosen the better thing, which will never be taken away from you.” Jesus Calling

How busy are you? Were you able to listen to this weeks meditation? In the meditation, I read this passage and I prompted us to first explore all the ways we are being pulled out of ourselves - thoughts, activities, people, responsibilities. Right now, visualize all your energy and where it is. Now read the above passage again. Finally, listen to your quiet voice of intuition which speaks to each of us in the space between our thoughts. What is it telling you? Do you need to reel in your energy? Your thoughts? Your activities? Are you joyful and present in each moment?

This is interesting…I was listening to Fr Mike on the Hallow App and he said our culture in the west suffers from what psychologists name; “hurry sickness”. He went on to list 3 things that may indicate you suffer from hurry sickness if you have done 1 of these 3 things:
At a Grocery store, in a check out line and you scan to see which is the shortest line - yes me.
At a stop light, you change lanes when pull up because fewer cars are in one lane - yes me.
Multi tasking and you forget one of the tasks because you are multi tasking - yup again! Ut oh!!!!
Fr Mike actually outed himself and said he also does all 3 of these things (which was a relief to me), and he also said he listens to all podcasts, netflix shows etc at 1.5 to 2 times normal speed - never at regular speed - ok maybe I listen to some podcasts at 1.5X but that’s where I draw the line lol. Life right now is rich, full and busy which is a blessing, but it is up to me to carve out the time daily I need with my “ME.”

Lets let our intention: “The space between my thoughts offers perfect happiness” continue to guide us for the rest of the month, slow us down and ground us.
Listen to the meditation from this week again and again.