The Breath of the Divine Within Us

When we speak about the Divine, we speak about the breath of the Divine, breathing in us.  The Greek word for “spirit” is pneuma, which means “breath.”  We are seldom aware of our breathing.  It is so essential for life that we only think about it when something is wrong with it.

The Spirit of the Divine is like our breath.  The Divine’s spirit is more intimate to us than we are to ourselves.  We might not often be aware of it, but without it we cannot live a “spiritual life.”   It is the Divine who prays in us, who offers us the gifts of love, forgiveness, kindness, goodness, gentleness, peace, and joy.  

Taken from Henri Nouwen Daily

When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it’s bottomless, that it doesn’t have any resolution, that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space. Pema Chodron.

The closer you get to the Light, the more of your shadow you see. Thus truly holy people are always humble people. Rohr

…you just know…

It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.

Meister Eckhart

A joyful mind happens….

When your mind can think well of itself, but without needing to.

When your mind can accept yourself as you are, warts and all.

When your mind can surrender to what is.

When your mind does not divide and always condemn one side or group.

When your mind can find truth on both sides.

When your mind fills in the gaps with “the benefit of the doubt” for both friend and enemy.

When your mind can critique and also detach from the critique.

When your mind can wait, listen and learn.

When your mind can live satisfied without resolution or closure.

When your mind can forgive and actually “forget.”

When your mind can admit it was wrong and change.

When your mind can stop judging and critiquing itself.

When you don’t need to complain or worry to get motivated

When you can observe your mind contracting into self-preservation or self-validation, and then laugh or weep over it.

When you can actually love with your mind.

When your mind can find God in all things.

Taken From: The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See by Richard Rohr