Daily reflection from the CPLO and the Jesuit Institute for 23 November 2021

Published: Mon, 11/22/21

Tuesday, 23 November 2021

Listen:

(Before the wind blows it all away)

The tide you never valued has gone out.
And you are marooned on unsure ground.
Something within you has closed down;
And you cannot push yourself back to life.

You have been forced to enter empty time.
The desire that drove you has relinquished.
There is nothing else to do now but rest
And patiently learn to receive the self
You have forsaken in the race of days.

Extract from For One Who is Exhausted,

A Blessing, John O’Donohue

Close your eyes.

Spend some time thinking about what has shaped this year for you.

Does a specific moment or time come to mind?

Orient yourself in the time that has passed before.

Only then can we begin to think about going forward.

It has, in many ways, felt like the days have raced ahead of our own being. How can we be still and understand ourselves at this moment?

Loving God,

May I receive this time of rest as a gift to me.

God, guide me into quietness

and help me to avoid unnecessary demands.

Be with me in my resting.

Amen.

Reflection prepared by Abigail Dawson