A meditation based on the revelations of St Julian of Norwich
And in this he showed me a little thing, the quantity of a hazel nut , lying in the palm of my hand, as it seemed. And it was as round as any ball. I looked upon it with the eye of my understanding, and thought, 'What may this be?' And it was answered generally thus,'It is all that is made.' I marvelled how it might last, for I thought it might suddenly have fallen to nought for littleness. And I was answered in my understanding: It lasts and ever shall, for God loves it. And so have all things their beginning by the love of God.
Take a hazelnut –
imagine, you hold the whole universe in your hand, all it’s galaxies, solar systems, stars, planets – wonder at it’s size – God made it, God loves it, God keeps it… imagine, you hold the earth in your hand, all it’s countries and oceans, its flora and fauna, it’s weather systems and currents, its cities and villages, it’s cultures and communities – wonder at it’s complexity - God made it, God loves it, God keeps it… imagine, you hold this community in your hand, it’s people, their families, their personalities, their stories, their joys and their sorrows, their gifts – wonder at it’s diversity – God made us, God loves us, God keeps us… imagine, you hold yourself in your hand, your story, your strengths and weaknesses, your dreams and your fears, your struggles and celebrations, your spirit – wonder at your beauty – God made you, God loves you, God keeps you...
In this little thing I saw three properties. The first is that God made it. The second that he loves it. And the third, that God keeps it. But what is this to me? Truly, the Creator, the Keeper, the Lover. For until I am substantially oned to him, I may never have full rest nor true bliss. That is to say, until I be so fastened to him that there is nothing that is made between my God and me.
God made it, God loves it, God keeps it
God made you, God loves you, God keeps you
God made us, God loves us, God keeps us
Proverbs 8v17-35
he who was before the beginning,
he who is one with the whole,
he who was not created but was,
he through whom everything was made,
he who came to walk amongst us,
he who was born into poverty,
he who had all power at his disposal,
he who gave it away for the least of us,
he who wore the mockers crown,
he who was stripped,
he who was whipped,
he who bled for us,
he who shed for us,
he who cried for us,
he who died for us,
he who lived again,
he who lives with us now and ever.
The bread and wine are shared
Hebrews 10v19-24
God, for your goodness, give me yourself, for you are all that I need
May I never ask anything that is less than you,
For if I ask any thing that is less, I know I will never be satisfied,
only in you have I all that I need.
Your goodness encompasses all of creation and all of your works,
Your goodness goes beyond all that we can see,
Your goodness is endless, for you are endless.
You created us for yourself,
and re-created us through your passion, your love and sacrifice,
Keep us in your deepest love and wrap us in your total goodness.
As we rest in you,
All shall be well,
And all shall be well,
And all manner of things shall be well.
Technorati Tags: alt.worship: Emerging Church: new-monasticism: Religion: Spirituality: St Julian: Worship
Thanks for this.
I'm reading "Revelations..." at the moment, funnily enough. Your meditation has been a good way for me to start my day.
x
Posted by: Mike R | 08/05/2008 at 06:43