During the anointing on Sunday Michael said more than once to go deep during this rite. In describing the rite, the process, the meaning, he said to go deep. When he laid hands on my head, and everyone put their hands on me was the time to really go deep within myself, with all the expectation and faith of healing and anointing.
How does one do that? Go deep within one’s self? In my former athletic life as a rower, we always had to dig deep, find that last place within us that the strength to keep going. As I sat in this peaceful living room I wondered if I could really go as far as I needed to go. Physical limits are what they are, but spiritual and psychological limits? Do they exist? When everyone’s hands were upon me, I started seeing this bottomless well of life and love. How accessible is it to me if I have things in the way - my own baggage, faults, sins, and frailties? The forgiveness of sins was already done by God just a moment before, but let’s not forget our own forgiveness of our sins and how we get in our own way. As I sat there letting my own “stuff” get out of the way, I felt the warmth of the hands upon me, the intimate, loving embrace of other’s intentions on mine. And in that moment the heat, the fire of the Holy Spirit, was in their hands and I was warm and free. Touched by God, literally, through Her children who were there. With me.
It makes me think of the balance of our days where going deep is not what we do, and it’s not expected. If we thought to do it, can we let our own baggage out of the way? Somewhat on automatic pilot as we navigate our days, taking the chores, the people, the issues of our days on a superficial level. Ought we not try to go deep, and do it more often? What would happen if we did?
How does one do that? Go deep within one’s self? In my former athletic life as a rower, we always had to dig deep, find that last place within us that the strength to keep going. As I sat in this peaceful living room I wondered if I could really go as far as I needed to go. Physical limits are what they are, but spiritual and psychological limits? Do they exist? When everyone’s hands were upon me, I started seeing this bottomless well of life and love. How accessible is it to me if I have things in the way - my own baggage, faults, sins, and frailties? The forgiveness of sins was already done by God just a moment before, but let’s not forget our own forgiveness of our sins and how we get in our own way. As I sat there letting my own “stuff” get out of the way, I felt the warmth of the hands upon me, the intimate, loving embrace of other’s intentions on mine. And in that moment the heat, the fire of the Holy Spirit, was in their hands and I was warm and free. Touched by God, literally, through Her children who were there. With me.
It makes me think of the balance of our days where going deep is not what we do, and it’s not expected. If we thought to do it, can we let our own baggage out of the way? Somewhat on automatic pilot as we navigate our days, taking the chores, the people, the issues of our days on a superficial level. Ought we not try to go deep, and do it more often? What would happen if we did?
1 comment:
i was really struck by Michael's admonition also. I'm trying it too and it it remarkably different from how I am in the world most of the time. It is DIFFERENT. So thankful for the invitation. I'm sensing too that the world really needs people who are anchored deeply... for we are like tiny boats tossed about by the whirl of life.
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