Thursday, October 27, 2011

Creating Space for Glory

I have a speed-up slow-down relationship with the words of Henri Nouwen.  I want to read quickly to immerse myself in the beauty of his words, but it is so potent that I must slow down if I am to digest it all.

He has handed me a definition of glory, one that is shifting my thinking.

He writes:

We live because we share God's breath, God's life, God's glory.

The question is not so much "How to live for the glory of God?" but, "How to live who we are, how to make true our deepest self?"

Take this as your koan: I am the glory of God.

Make that thought the center of your meditation so that it slowly becomes not only a thought but a living reality.

You are the place where God chose to dwell... and the spiritual life is nothing more or less than to allow that space to exist where God can dwell, to create the space where his glory can manifest itself.

In your meditation, you can ask yourself:
"Where is the glory fo God?  If the glory of God is not where I am, where else can it be?"

Once you start realizing in this very intimate and personal way that you are indeed the glory of God,
then everything is different,
then your life takes a decisive turn.


I could go for a decisive turn, an uncovering of my truest, deepest self.



Here's to creating space for glory.

* * *
For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory
in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? 
Is it not you? 
Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

I Thess. 2:19-20

3 comments:

Emily said...

HENRI NOUWEN IS THE BEST EVER. :-)

praying for you and your boys. if you come to the portland, OR area let me buy you Starbucks?

Claire said...

Amen, Tricia.

Anonymous said...

I just finished a shot blog of my own, and came to read your blog....and one of the quotes astounded me with what I was trying to capture....may have to cite a few great authors and revise my blog a bit:) Also, I am so excited about the 5280 story. We get 5280 mailed every month and Dec. will be our last issue.