Scripture
Continue your journey, O people of the Restoration. You have been
blessed thus far but there is so much yet to see, so much yet to do. Go
forth with confidence and live prophetically as a people who have been
loved, and who now courageously choose to love others in the name of the
One you serve. Amen.—Doctrine and Covenants 162:8c
Reflection
Going on a journey is similar to the experience of seeking God.
However, instead of experiencing a journey as a way to get someplace, it
may be helpful to consider it as a goal in and of itself.
The Buddhists practice Vipassana meditation. During this meditation
walk, an awareness of the actual motion of the body, the feel of it in
reference to its surroundings, the way the muscles contract and relax as
they keep the body in balance are identified. The attention is inward and,
like the Zen Tea Ceremony where the goal is not the tea, the goal of
Vipassana is not the destination; the focus is the taking of the journey.
The pilgrimage is found in most, if not all, religious traditions. From
the Native American Vision Quest to the Islamic trek to Mecca to our own
church history caravans, visiting the sacred sites that form the history
of our faiths is more than a tradition. It is a path for renewing and
rededication to that faith in which we claim a part.
The Community of Christ Temple has incorporated a meditation walk
leading to the sanctuary. The worshiper’s path is a place of preparation
for worship and encountering the Divine. It demonstrates the potential
resident within the powerful symbol of the Temple, but also serves as a
reminder to all of us, no matter our location, to be intentional and aware
of our journey with the Divine.
Action
Plan a meditation walk for tomorrow, before you enter your church. On
your walk, begin with a short prayer for guidance. Then, take special
notice of the things that come to your attention. Stop when you feel moved
to stop. This is not a walk to exercise your body. It is a moving
meditation to make you aware of the space your body takes up in this
world, an awareness of your connection to the Divine. Take your time. When
you arrive at church, consider how your journey has made you more aware of
the Divine and prepared you for worship. Will this Sunday’s worship
experience be any different for you because of your “journey”? What
difference does intentional preparation make to your worship experiences?
What difference might it make to World Conference experiences?
Prayer
Pray for sisters and brothers worldwide that our minds, hearts,
spirits, and bodies may be open to the infusion of the Spirit. Pray for
the church as we come together in the Temple at World Conference: whether
in person, through the Internet, or in supporting prayer, so we may be
aware of the powerful presence of the Divine.
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