“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,…” Matthew 1:19
“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: …”Matthew 1:22. Full passage here
Joseph’s attentive presence to all that was GoOD opened him to the the work of angels and “prophetic provision*.”
Two nights ago, we gathered with some new friends who wanted to pay attention to the winter solstice and consider its meaning. So we ate and drank yummy things, sat by candlelight, each person brought a favorite reading for the group, wrote a reflection about our dark experiences in 2022, and played “Weird Flex.” It was a profoundly meaningful and hilarious, weird flex kind of night.
Yesterday was grandson Lorenzo’s Middle School Christmas pageant. And yes, it was everything you can imagine a grandson’s middle school pageant could be. Simply wonderful.🥰😭😂
Last night we co-celebrated a wedding for a person we’ve known since she was in her mother’s belly. It was a day full of consideration and reflection. It was a feast for the senses! The food, drink, stories, hugging friends, tears of joy, reflection and belly laughing! One of the marriage advisements we offered in the homily was to practice “attentive presence.”
Today, December 23rd, we have four of our seven grandchildren in blizzard conditions while the other 3 (and their parents) wait to see whether we will postpone our planned Christmas celebration tonight. All the food, candles, presents, and traditions may be for another day.
Our attention to the good of what is here and now will give us the grace to be with all that is, and who knows, we might have an angelic visitation and fulfillment of prophecy!
What about you? What is the invitation to be present to what is GoOD here and now?
Practice Attentive Presence by Waiting and Hoping in the Incarnation
- Be attentive to what is here now
- Be attentive to available connection
- Be attentive to your body and its 7 senses (not 5 but 7 =)
- Sight
- Hearing
- Smell
- Taste
- Touch
- Vestibular (Movement): the movement and balance sense, which gives us information about where our head and body are in space. Helps us stay upright when we sit, stand, and walk.
- Proprioception (Body Position): the body awareness sense, which tells us where our body parts are relative to each other. It also gives us information about how much force to use, allowing us to do something like crack an egg while not crushing the egg in our hands.
Be attentive. Let all of your senses come alive to what is and see what GoOD things may happen.
Taking a breath…attentive to GoOD’s Presence,
Clare and Scott
BONUS: 2020 Vlog conversation with our co-author Rev. Dr. Doug Calhoun. Doug gives us a way a simple way to be attentive to the presence of God within us. He reminds us that as God’s temple, we can practice remembering God and our true selves. Let his beautiful pastor/spiritual director’s heart help bring you home to what is true about God and you.
Connect with Doug Calhoun
Doug’s Calhoun’s website
Co-Author, Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram
Adele and Doug Calhoun on Enneagram Midday Cafe
LOUGHRIGE SOURCES AND RESOURCES
- Scott and Clare’s Enneagram books here Enneagram Personality Styles, Motions of the Soul, and Spiritual rhythms for the Enneagram.
- New to the Enneagram? Learn more here.
- Scott and Clare’s Enneagram and Christianity Podcast
- BECOME A CERTIFIED ©iENNEAGRAM PRACTITIONER
All guests are Alumni of ©iEnneagram Certification Programor CROSSROADS TRANSFORMING RETREATS COMMUNITY
*Great phrase, AJ Mattson!