Saturday's deep breath

“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths or the turning inwards in prayer for five short minutes.” Etty Hillesum

Saturdays have taken on that importance for me. It seems as though during the week while all is blending together I catch myself holding my breath. Saturday becomes a long exhale before the Sabbath. In particular I find myself more deeply in prayer and conversation with God just before the Sermon on Sunday. Because the world is changing so fast I no longer trust anything I write on Tuesday will even be relevant on Sunday. So it is with prayer. The collects always have meaning but tailoring the intercessions and spontaneous prayer has taken on new meaning and importance. 

And so, just before we explore tomorrow the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus and enter into that narrative differently than ever before, we pause and turn inward. Take two deep breaths and savor this by Hafiz as we prepare for our hearts to be burning and ponder “tripping over joy” or as the musician says, stumbling toward ecstacy!

TRIPPING OVER JOY – by Hafiz

What is the difference

Between your experience of Existence

And that of a saint?

The saint knows

That the spiritual path

Is a sublime chess game with God

And that the Beloved

Has just made such a Fantastic Move

That the saint is now continually

Tripping over Joy

And bursting out in Laughter

And saying, “I Surrender!”

Whereas, my dear,

I am afraid you still think

You have a thousand serious moves.