Thursday, May 15

By John Bonney of Springfield, Oregon, USA

My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

—Ezekiel 37:27 NRSV

People often gloss over their life’s events until they come to their later years and wonder, “How did I get here? How did I miss so much?” I, too, wish I had taken more time, paid better attention, explored under the surface of my experiences to appreciate every sight, sound, taste, scent, or touch.

My contact with life is like a cosmic waltz with my Creator, the Lord of the dance. That connection and embrace with the One who leads in the dance—is where I find depth and meaning. Like most, I did not always see or hear the Leader reaching out to me and saying, “Let’s dance.”

This poses some difficulty for my journey. It is still an enjoyable and memorable experience. I am glad that I at least have this seemingly shallow experience to enjoy. However, we cannot get to know the land where we travel if we remain merely tourists.

I write this while I tour southeast Alaska. It excites me to see two orcas, a little owl, and bald eagles. I marvel at blue ice, endless forested hills, and mountains with snow-covered peaks. However, now I realize that isn’t the splendor of the trip.

For me, people are the wonders. I enjoy the endless diversity and responses of my companion travelers—the crew of the ship and the people of the towns and ports. To me they hold the divine Presence. Here I find the Lord of the dance. Here I see the endless faces of creation.

I hear it in a string quartet that plays in the ship’s atrium. I see it in faces and hear it in voices of the often-unaware people sitting near the musicians. They pay no attention to the gift of the music offered. They talk loudly—some on cell phones to others far away—missing all that is around them. Have I also done that?

I sit here writing in a journal and almost miss seeing a beautiful passage of water. I will put my journal away now and go to a deck closer to the water. Closer? Is that the answer? Do I need to come closer to the Source? Do I need to hear music of voices, feel the rhythm of the sea, and find my partner—the Lord of the dance?

Prayer for Peace

God of life’s journey, travel with us. Help us be aware of each person as a blessing. Help us be aware of ways we can share peace and be at peace with companion travelers.

Spiritual Practice: Breathing with the Ocean

Sit or lie in a relaxed posture. Pay attention to your breathing. Let the rhythm become calm and even. Imagine sitting or lying on a warm, sandy beach with ocean waves rolling in and out near your feet. Listen to the waves as they “breathe out” and “breathe in.” Begin to breathe in time with the waves. With each breath receive what the ocean of God brings you. Let go of what you carry into the sea of God’s presence. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving. Ask how you can share God’s healing and peace today.

Peace Covenant

Today, God, I will keep time with the dance of your creation.