"Going Within"
... Meditation Series
April/May, 2001
“No thanks. Meditation is not for me. I prefer a more active style of worship, like the liturgy,” I said countless times to my husband and other well-meaning friends as they shared their own personal experiences with meditation. Like many of you I live a “Type A” lifestyle, managing a full time job, two children and a home. Attending mass has always felt good. It’s easy to program into my calendar and has always facilitated a weekly connection with my Spirit within. But holding onto that connection has become increasingly more difficult as I grow older and have more demands on my time from the added technology in my life, my job and my family. I have become increasingly aware of how difficult it has become to be truly present at any given moment of my life. My mind races ahead regardless of whether I am listening to my family and friends as they talk, participating in a professional meeting, or simply driving my car. This very uncomfortable awareness led me to sign up for the Going Within meditation series at St. Joan of Arc.
The Going Within class met in the church for five consecutive weeks. We were a group of 8 church members all seeking more time connected to our spiritual selves, all professing frustration with the breakneck paces of our lives. We were met by the calming presence of our facilitator, Lisa Venable, M.A. Lisa, also a member of St. Joan of Arc, has studied Zen meditation for 7 years. She is a psychotherapist, inspirational speaker, and Spiritual Director of Agape Sanctuary. Lisa has studied the spiritual teachings of many religions and cultures. As a Spiritual Director, Lisa guides those seeking transformation, to find inner love and the Spirit within, ultimately leading to a more joyful and peaceful way of living.
The class consisted of about 20% discussion about mindful living and meditation and 80% actual participation in exercises to develop these skills. I was amazed at the variety of ways that one can incorporate meditation into every day life. We practiced mindful (that is, truly focused with all of one’s consciousness) breathing, eating, walking.
We practiced relaxation and connecting to the Spirit through guided relaxation meditation, walking meditation, candle meditation, and guided spiritual meditation. Lisa stressed that there is no one right way to meditate. She encouraged us to take any of these practices that felt right and incorporate them into our daily lives. She cautioned that many people “give up” meditation because they believe that you must practice it a certain number of minutes each day or a certain number of days each week.
Many members of St. Joan of Arc speak of being moved to tears by the Sunday masses. Through this five week class, we learned to connect to that special place, where the tears originate, independently. We connect to that special place so that “life will not be a destination, but a way of being; a journey to be enjoyed, not endured.”
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