Reflections of Tranquility Sun, 5th May, 2013
This morning's reflection is a literal one. I have been fascinated in recent weeks with the intersection of two powerful ideas: one visual and one spiritual.
As you may have seen from recent posts, I have lately been enjoying the water in Forest Park and also at the Shaw Nature reserve in Gray Summit. The camera has an amazing capacity to capture the reflections on the surface of the water even more than the naked eye, bringing to life an alternate mirror-image universe. There's something very calming about the quiet reflection, especially when the surface of the water is perfectly undisturbed, like a glass surface.
And this image leads me to the other powerful idea, one shared in a sermon several weeks ago by Thomas Perchlik, in which he shred the idea that this visual metaphor can be a great help in teaching us how to meditate. I'm not sure if it was Thích Nhất Hạnh or another Buddhist practitioner who suggested that to mediate in a meaningful way, we should visulize a perfectly placid lake or pond, imaginging the surface to be smooth like a mirror. Only in this way can the water, which symbolizes our inner selves, fully reflect the light of the heavens above, leading to new insights and deep inner peace.
So there's a reason why it's so attractive for the spirit of love, or God if you prefer, to lead us beside the still waters. For it's only in this stillness that we are able to fully reflect upon our place in the universe.
This brings to mind the quotation from Paul, which I'll leave you with today (from the Aramaic Bible translation):
Now we see as in a mirror, in an allegory, but then face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I shall know as I am known.
—I Corinthians 13:12
This morning's reflection is a literal one. I have been fascinated in recent weeks with the intersection of two powerful ideas: one visual and one spiritual.
As you may have seen from recent posts, I have lately been enjoying the water in Forest Park and also at the Shaw Nature reserve in Gray Summit. The camera has an amazing capacity to capture the reflections on the surface of the water even more than the naked eye, bringing to life an alternate mirror-image universe. There's something very calming about the quiet reflection, especially when the surface of the water is perfectly undisturbed, like a glass surface.
And this image leads me to the other powerful idea, one shared in a sermon several weeks ago by Thomas Perchlik, in which he shred the idea that this visual metaphor can be a great help in teaching us how to meditate. I'm not sure if it was Thích Nhất Hạnh or another Buddhist practitioner who suggested that to mediate in a meaningful way, we should visulize a perfectly placid lake or pond, imaginging the surface to be smooth like a mirror. Only in this way can the water, which symbolizes our inner selves, fully reflect the light of the heavens above, leading to new insights and deep inner peace.
So there's a reason why it's so attractive for the spirit of love, or God if you prefer, to lead us beside the still waters. For it's only in this stillness that we are able to fully reflect upon our place in the universe.
This brings to mind the quotation from Paul, which I'll leave you with today (from the Aramaic Bible translation):
Now we see as in a mirror, in an allegory, but then face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I shall know as I am known.
—I Corinthians 13:12
