LIVING IN THE PRESENCE Living Deeply Rooted

SATURDAY May 30th

Deuteronomy 6 : 4 – 9

Jeremiah 17 : 7 – 8

Luke 6 : 46 – 49

Ephesians 3 : 14 – 19

Living deeply rooted sounded at first thought almost impossible. Could I really ‘love the Lord our God with all my heart, with all my soul and all my strength’? There are times that I am too scattered or too busy to be rooted anywhere or in anything. Yet as I take time to be still, silent and reflective, I believe that by nature we are all deeply rooted in God, the Source of our being who gives us life and breath. We come from and return to God in the mystery of our physical and spiritual nature. I’m called through the example of Jesus’ life, the scriptures and my own spiritual experiences to grow into the recognition and realization of this profound mystery of my being.

Sometimes God seems like a great subterranean river which reveals itself by the plants or trees that have their roots nourished from below. In the silence of contemplative prayer, even when I am totally unaware of it, my spirit is rooted, nourished and silently healed from the deep, living waters within, by sheer grace.

I have slowly learned that I grow best when serving where my roots are, from what nourishes and energizes me, what gives me joy in my heart. My best efforts blossom when I stay focussed in the present – to the gifts and grace available in each moment.

Deeply planted in the present moment, walking the labyrinth bare foot, I feel grounded. In the sacred green space of my garden, where the Presence of God fills everything, I am alive, awake to life with a peace that is beyond my understanding. In these moments, deeply rooted and grounded in God’s love, I am given the courage to do what I’m called to do, to serve others

and to know that it matters.

J. King

For Reflection and Journaling:

1. What roots me in God’s love?
2. What would help me to live more deeply rooted?

Meditative Prayer:

Source of Life and Love,
May you fill me from my roots up to the very tip of my being. Amen.