Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States - Center for Action and Contemplation's Father Richard Rohr's Meditation "Sabbath -- Ripening; Sitting in the Sun" for Saturday, 8 November 2014

An apple by FidlerJan 

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States - Center for Action and Contemplation's Father Richard Rohr's Meditation "Sabbath -- Ripening; Sitting in the Sun" for Saturday, 8 November 2014 - "How does an apple ripen? It just sits in the sun."(Thomas Merton)
Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation
"Ripening"
"Sabbath Meditation"
Saturday, 8 November 2014
Remember:
An understanding of ripening basically teaches us the wisdom of timing, love, and patience, and allows us to be wise instead of judgmental. (Sunday)
The refusal to ripen leads to what T.S. Eliot spoke of in “The Hollow Men,” lives that “end not with a bang but with a whimper.” (Monday)
The movement toward gratitude, authenticity, and union is the natural and organic inner work of the second half of our lives. (Tuesday)
If we are to speak of a spirituality of ripening, we need to recognize that it is always characterized by an increasing tolerance for ambiguity, a growing sense of subtlety, an ever-larger ability to include and allow, a capacity to live with contradictions and even to love them! (Wednesday)
Real elders are the truthful mirrors when hard truth needs be told, but also gentle mirrors that can affirm and praise and not distort the moment, but enjoy it for exactly what it offers. (Thursday)
A ripening mind and heart might simply be described as a capacity for non-dual consciousness and contemplation. (Friday)
Rest: Sitting in the Sun
When James Finley was a young monk at the monastery of Gethsemane, he shared with Thomas Merton (who was his spiritual director) his frustration at his seemingly inept efforts to experience God’s presence. Merton responded: “How does an apple ripen? It just sits in the sun.” Not that we don’t need to continue to seek God, but by our own efforts alone we cannot achieve spiritual maturity. We must bring ourselves to the Light where God’s grace seasons us into juicy, sweet, flavorful ripeness.
In the northern hemisphere the days are growing shorter—we have fewer and fewer hours of daylight. We may have to seek out the sun’s rays more intentionally. In moderation, sunlight strengthens the immune system, enhances emotional health, and synchronizes biorhythms. Find some time where you can simply bask in sunshine, exposing your skin and soul to the light freely given, only waiting to be received.
Gateway to Silence: Ripen me into fullness.
For Further Study:
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life
Loving the Two Halves of Life: The Further Journey
(CD, MP3 download)
'Ripening,' and issue of Oneing

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Center for Action and Contemplation

1705 Five Points Rd SW
Albuquerque, NM 87105 United States (physical) 
PO Box 12464
Albuquerque, NM 87195-2464 United States (mailing) 
(505) 242-9588
cac.org
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