Some thoughts. I have this idea that everyone is searching for God. We must because that is how we are made. It is like a thirst that can not be quenched unless you drink from the proper well. Sort of like Lays’ potato chips, “you can’t eat just one”. They are specifically designed so that eating one will not be satisfying. Maybe if you eat the whole bag? But it seems a lot of people do not know that is what they are looking for and it gets all messed up.
I look and see so much of our world revolves around sex. There is a thirst for it that often doesn’t seem to really satisfying. So go find it somewhere else, with someone else, trying it this way, that way. Any way except the right way.
Which leads me to compare love making and meditation. Quite a jump!
If you want to make love to your spouse, it is really an all day event. You can’t wake up, complain about your spouse; then in the afternoon dismiss them, discourage them; then complain over dinner and then expect to have a great love making session. In case you didn’t know this just doesn’t work. In fact the longer the preparation the better the love making. Maybe it takes two days, maybe all week, maybe a whole life time of listening, complimenting, doing things you both like, or maybe doing something you don’t particularly like but are willing to do, compliments, hugs, little notes, dates, vacations, forgiveness, forgetting. Connecting.
Then the penultimate act of love making can be beautiful, even overwhelming. It takes letting go. Letting yourselves experience joy, letting your guard down, letting yourself be loved. Think about all that for a moment. It is overwhelming and many a couple once experiencing that joy, slide away from it. It can be dangerous to be all in. You could get a broken heart.
One way it’s just sex. No connection, no letting go, no letting the guard down and for sure don’t let love get involved, that gets messy. You could get a broken heart.
But if in your fear you would seek only
Kahlil Gibran The Prophet – On Love
love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover
your nakedness and pass out of love’s
threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you
shall laugh, but not all of your laughter,
and weep, but not all of your tears.
True loving takes a lot of courage. It requires being all in. It requires the best of you, all day long, every day.
Now, compare that to meditation. Do you use method number 1? Complain about God, the world, life in general all day long, but then expect to have a great, overwhelming experience with Love itself? Or worse ignore God?
Or maybe, perhaps try method 2? Say hello to God in the morning, give thanks for being alive, look forward to the day together, give compliments, look for ways to help God get his chores done, then look forward to sitting down with Him and share. Talk. Get overwhelmed with joy, let your guard down, let yourself be loved?
What is the longest you have been on the phone with someone you love? How many hours?
What is the longest conversation you have had with God? 15 minutes? 30 minutes? Read the lives’ of the saints or any other holy person. It’s hours of prayer. As if they were in love with God. Have you tried it? Me neither, but I will. Now, I have to, don’t I?
Have you written letters or notes to God? Yes, I am.
Do you tell people about your relationship? Yes, I am.
Do you sit in quiet silence or in excited anticipation? Try excited anticipation in silence.
The Books of Daniel 