Body Awareness Practice
With eyes open and a soft focus, take in and release three deep breaths before letting your breath return to normal. With the third out-breath, gently close your eyes. Feel the weight of your body on the chair, bed, or floor. Finally, take a minute to do a body scan: noticing how the body feels as you scan steadily down from the top of the head to the feet, not trying to change anything, just noticing. Close the practice with another deep breath, in and out.
The Sarum Prayer
God be in my head—and in my understanding
God be in my eyes—and in my looking
God be in my mouth—and in my speaking
God be in my heart—and in my thinking
God be at my end—and at my departing
Friday Psalm Portion
Psalm 23 (Robert Alter)
The Lord is my shepherd
I shall not want.
In grass meadows he makes me lie down.
By quiet waters guides me.
My life he brings back.
Reflection on the Psalm Portion
Have you ever been really tired, physically, emotionally, spiritually, or mentally, but for whatever reason, you felt you just had to keep grinding it out? Just then, someone other than yourself says to you, “Why don’t you take a break?” and that was all the permission you needed. Perhaps you even thought, “Why didn’t I think of that?” How much better if that someone, whoever it might have been, were in a position to make practical arrangements for whatever sort of rest you needed. This is the opening picture of God in Psalm 23.
Psalm Portion Mediation
Read the Psalm portion over two more times. If you like, use a different pronoun for the shepherd (she or they). Notice as you read, which image most appeals to you, and place yourself in the scene.
Prayer for Divine Perception
O Divine Wisdom who dances with God from the beginning, who dwells within the holy of holies, whose power upholds all things in their being, open the eyes of our hearts to perceive the wonders around us. Help us to notice the world shot through with the glory of God. Amen.
Prayer for Loved Ones
Take in and release a few deep breath, as you focus on one person, living or having passed on, or anything from the created order that you can easily appreciate for its beauty or pleasing-ness in your eyes. Sit with that sense of appreciation over the next half minute. If you like, place your hand over your chest as you do so.
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Gratitude Practice
Place a hand over your heart, and allow yourself to feel gratitude, appreciation, for three people, from your past, or part of your present. Rest your awareness on gratitude for them or any others that come to mind over the next minute.
A Prayer for Protection and Freedom of Heart
Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Benediction
So have a blessed day: go in peace, wash your hands, love your neighbor—you are not alone!