Consider the Robin

Feb 25

Daily Dose of Emily D

“A Bird, came down the Walk -
He did not know I saw -
He bit an Angle Worm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw,

And then, he drank a Dew
From a convenient Grass -
And then hopped sidewise to the Wall
To let a Beetle pass -

He glanced with rapid eyes,
That hurried all abroad -
They looked like frightened Beads, I thought,
He stirred his Velvet Head. -

Like one in danger, Cautious,
I offered him a Crumb,
And he unrolled his feathers,
And rowed him softer Home -

Than Oars divide the Ocean,
Too silver for a seam,
Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon,
Leap, plashless as they swim.”

— -- Emily Dickinson

Daily Scripture Reading

Matthew Chapter Twenty-Five

Anchor Verse

“For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ”

— Matthew 25: 29, NRSV

Reflection

Repetition is powerful. Repeated patterns call us to take notice and to focus on what is essential. Today our scripture reading again asks us to consider the flow of abundance and how it works in the kingdom of love and light. Jesus - through the use of parables - yet again- shares this message with us: to those who have, more will be given.

The life we are called to live is a life of trust. A life without fear. As a gardener - I love prepping the soil and planting the seed. I am overjoyed at sprouts and even more so with the fruits that begin to form and extend. I hesitate to harvest. Why? Because of a block I have - something deep within that I am working to shed. The thought that - when I pick this - it will be gone. That’s a sad thought for me - I have worked so hard. I like what this fullness - this witness to my work -looks like - I want it to stay there a little longer. But that block within me, puts a block on my garden. Did you know that the more you harvest flowers, the more they will grow? Lettuce too and cucumber. Putting in the seed and celebrating growth is important - but harvest is necessary too - enjoyment also includes consumption and the cycle of replanting - - - thankful in every step of the process. The growth, the abundance, the empty bed. The cycle of living involves getting and letting go - receiving and giving - in continuous flow. As we use what we have, we are making space for more to come. We have enough, and even more is coming. This is the parable of the talents -

Earlier in this book of Matthew, while highlighting this theme of kingdom living, Jesus asks his disciples to consider the birds. So let’s consider them. They have no worries about next meals or flight plans. They wake with the sun and greet each day with their song. They are fully authentic. They are content with their feathers. They live in perfect trust. Just think of their confidence in who they are.

Dickinson observes a bird hoping along her garden path, gathering its food. It snatches a worm and eats it raw and takes a cool drink from a “convenient grass". That’s how we are to live. Not eating worms and drinking water from grass - but that simply - without the fear of where the next meal will be. As we live in this humble, moment-by-moment way as the birds live, in connection to the our Creator and our divine nature, we live a life of giving and receiving - of graceful, quiet strength and beauty. A life of perpetual abundance.

Transcript

Hello and thank you for joining me for this guided meditation. We will focus on generating the energy of confidence today. Just make yourself comfortable. Breathe in and out. Breathe in and breathe out.

Settle into this moment. This is your time. Join your hands together and place them before your heart. Bow your head and thank yourself for taking this time out of your day to care for yourself. Breathe in and breathe out. Inhale and lift your hands up to the sky. Exhale and bring them palms together to heart center. Again - inhale and lift your arms up. Exhale, and bring them to heart. Once more - breathe in and lift - stretching high towards the sky. Breathe out - hands to heart. Listen to the beat of your heart. Enjoy the sound of your heart beating. Smile. This is your time and this is your day.

Breathe in and breathe out. Release any thoughts. Shift your body side to side, releasing any negative energy or thoughts. Breathe in deeply, and breathe out all doubt with a loud sigh out- breathe it out. Breathe in deeply through your nose, and with a loud sigh out, breathe out any fear. Let it all drift away with your breath. Shake out your wrists and hands. Release - release. Shake it all out.

Breathe in and gently place your hands on your knees. Exhale - release. Take a deep breath in - sit up tall. Exhale - empty your mind. Breathe in and breathe out. You are at peace. Enjoy this peace that you have created for yourself.

Inhale and exhale. Feel the surface beneath you. You are grounded to the Earth. Breathe in. Mother Earth supports you. Breathe out. You are thankful. Breathe in. Your Creator supports you. Breathe out with thanksgiving. Breathe in through your nose and breathe out through you nose. Breathe in. Breathe out. Relax.

As we settle deeper, embrace these positive thoughts. You can repeat them after me aloud our just quietly in your mind focusing on the meaning of the words.

Let’s begin our affirmations: