LENT WEEK 5
Haiku Meditation
To all the weary
Beauty is a caregiver
Come and see, delight
“Come all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
The definition of heavy laden means burdened by cares or spiritually anxious. Most often we feel this anxiousness manifesting itself in our bodies before we even know what we’re anxious about. We were designed to experience an integrated life through all 5 senses and the body often testifies to what is going on inside before our mind can understand it. Jesus’ invitation to “come and rest” is an invitation to the body just as much as it is for our hearts and minds. The rhythm of a walk, for example, can align us with the natural rhythms of our breath, the beating of our heart and help us become present and attentive to God’s presence all around us.
Each day is a pilgrimage from dawn to dusk to be aware of how God is moving in our midst. The more we find ways to enter into his invitation to rest, the more attentive we become to his presence.
In the creation story of Genesis, we see how God creates the beauty and wonder of the Garden of Eden and commissions Adam to tend to it. However, we also see that in the care and keeping of the garden, the garden also cares for and keeps Adam. Beauty is a caregiver. The vibrant colors of a sunset or the sound of ocean waves rolling in can become our prayer without even speaking a word. The Psalms speak vividly of the ministry of nature when we take time to notice the details of the created world. Rest and wonder can become two of our greatest spiritual counselors.
In the preparation from our wintering season to new growth, it’s important to allow our weary souls to be cared for. God extends an invitation to beauty all around us, but we must position ourselves to see it. Just as a photographer trains their eye to always find the light, it is the same with our lives. When things don’t make sense or feel dark, we must look from every angle and find the source of light. Training our eye to see beauty in our daily life becomes a spiritual discipline. The invitation is always there, we may just need to position ourselves to see it.
As we emerge from the winter season, the invitation to delight in the new is waiting for us. There is joy in a new season and we are invited to take part. No matter how heavy laden we’ve been, we can look to the resurrection and know that we will see God’s goodness in the land of the living(Psalm 27: 13-14). A fallow season of a garden is necessary but it’s not forever. The fruitful season awaits in the dark soil, ready to emerge after intentional rest and care. Sometimes we get so burdened that we forget the good news that Christ’s resurrection is alive within us but scripture reminds us:
1 Peter 1:3-9
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”
Guided Journal Prompts:
How can you position yourself to see beauty throughout the week?
How can you make that a spiritual practice in your life?
What is God inviting you to see?
Suggested song: Tend by Emmy Rose/Bethel Music
Prayer: Lord, remind us to position ourselves to see your invitation to your beauty all around us. Train our eyes to see more of you.
Embodied Movement Meditation to Psalm 103:1-2
Creative Prayer Response:
Our faith was meant to be embodied, integrated into our whole being. Our spiritual journey is one of movement and we use movement words to describe our faith all the time. We reach for God and we turn away, we walk with God or walk away from God, we climb, we cling, we bend, we release, we rest, we run, we hold on, we be still...Scripture is also full of metaphors that use the body and movement to describe the human condition and our relationship with God.
This week as a spiritual practice we are going to embody God’s word.
Read Psalm 103:1-5. Set aside a time to create an embodied prayer to the verses. Use movement from the video or your own to create a movement prayer. Begin by reading the scripture twice. The second time choose a word that stands out to you and answer these questions about that word. Repeat with 3-4 words throughout the scripture creating a gesture for each one you choose. Do the gestures as you read the scripture through one final time.
What emotion does that word bring up for you?
Is it a fast or slow word?
If you had to choose one place in your body you feel that word, where would it be?
What is one movement or gesture that demonstrates what that word makes you feel?
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Dancer Pictured Sarah Pieper
Haiku by Libby Johnson
Music by Ben Johnson Music Factory
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May not be used or duplicated without permission