Prayerful Morsels
 Tidbits of Inspiration & Information
 

January 23, 2009

In this issue
Morsels from the Editor
Prayerful Quote
Personal Pondering
Lectio Divina
A Gratitude Journal
Morsels From the Editor
Welcome to another issue of Prayerful Morsels. This issue begins a series on Lectio Divina. In Personal Ponderings I discuss my belief that God cares about all the little details in our lives that we care about. We just need to pay attention. We need to always be more aware of his presence and action in our everyday lives.As Anthony DeMello said, "Awareness, awareness, awareness."
 
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If you have any suggestions for this column or other articles, please write a Letter to the Editor.
Prayerful Quote
There is but one road which reaches God and that is prayer. If anyone shows you another you are being deceived.
- St. Teresa of Avila (1515-82)
Personal Pondering
by Colleen Spiro 
 
A friend of mine believes that God does not do "details." He doesn't think that God cares about the little problems or situations in our everyday lives. I strongly disagree. I believe that God loves us so much that every little thing that matters to us also matters to God. And I have examples in my own life to prove it!
One day, after dropping my sons off at school, I was driving to work when my car broke down. My husband was out of town and I didn't know what to do or who to call. So I prayed that God would send me an angel. Then I put the hood up and got back in my car and prayed and fretted.
Next thing I knew, a man in a truck pulled over and asked if he could help. He looked under the hood and said he thought it was the radiator. He had a bucket and I was able to find some water nearby. As my rescuer poured it in, he told me that I should make it to a service station okay now. I thanked him profusely and told him he was the angel I had prayed for. He gave me a strange look and said, "I do not usually stop to help people by the side of the road. But something inside me strongly urged me to stop this time. And by the way, I am an auto mechanic, on my way to work."
So, you tell me, does God do details?
Lectio Divina
by Colleen Spiro
 
This article begins a 4 part series on Lectio Divina, which means "divine reading." It is an ancient technique of praying with scripture which helps the pray-er enter into a deeper relationship with God. Its history traces back to the 6th century and has been kept alive over the years in the Christian monastic tradition.
Lectio Divina consists of moments of reading (lectio), reflecting on (meditatio), responding to (oratio), and resting in (contemplatio) the Word of God. It is not so much a "method" of prayer as much as it is a deepening of prayer and of our loving relationship with God. It also helps us in relating scripture to our own experience. We need grace for this to happen. The technique outlined for us is just a guide.
St. John of the Cross paraphrased a verse from Luke's Gospel (11:9) to help us remember the 4 steps of Lectio Divina:
Seek in Reading and you will find in Meditation; knock in Prayer and it will be opened to you in Contemplation.
I have attended classes on Lectio Divina. I have practiced it a few times, or attempted to, but never stuck with it. Lately, however, I have felt a strong urge to go back and try again. And so I invite you to make this journey with me.
Next Issue: The first step of Lectio Divina: Reading (Lectio).
 
Resources: Too Deep for Words: Rediscovering Lectio Divina, by Thelma Hall, RC.; The Heart Whispers, Benedictine Wisdom for Today, by  Elizabeth J. Canham; and the Contemplative Outreach website and Accepting the Embrace of God, The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina, by Fr. Luke  Dysinger, OSB (considered public domain) at the website here.
A Gratitude Journal
by Colleen Spiro 
 
I am grateful for:
 
1. My subscribers to Prayerful Morsels.
2. My faith
3. My opportunity to go on retreat
4. My family
5. Recovering from the flu!
 
What are you grateful for today??? Is there something that you would like to thank God for and would like to share? Write to the Editor and put in the subject line - Gratitude.
The Third Floor Window, by Colleen SpiroColleen's memoir about surviving child sexual abuse, The Third Floor Window, A True Story of Secrets, Survival and Hope, is now on sale at:
 
Want to read more of Colleen's reflections?
Go check out her blog, Thoughts on Grace, is HERE.
And her book blog, Surviving By Grace, is HERE.
 
AND if you enjoy reading this ezine or find it helpful to your prayer life, please forward it to someone you think might find it interesting!! Click on link below (down below at the bottom of this newsletter) that says
 Forward to a friend.
Prayerful Morsels
Colleen Spiro, Publisher
mailto:editor@colleenspiro.com 
http://www.colleenspiro.com
Prayerful Morsels
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