The Still Life: 21 Days of Meditation

You've made it to the end of Week Three! Congratulations!!I hope you've enjoyed this series as much as I've enjoyed creating it. This podcast will continue to be available to you, so don't stop now - whether you have 2 minutes or 15, I hope you'll keep taking the opportunity to meet God in the stillness.Today our meditation focuses on our thoughts. And I'd love to know your thoughts about your experience. After you finish your meditation for today, would you mind letting me know in the comments?But first, make a little space in your schedule (just about fifteen minutes), find a quiet spot, and let's get started.

Among other things, I'm a yoga teacher. One of the reasons yoga has been so meaningful to me is that it is one way that I can prepare my body for prayer and meditation. Something about moving mindfully causes my mind to settle down so that the sitting and listening of meditation becomes easier. So, I'd love for you to join me for a short yoga practice to help settle your mind. It incorporates a scripture from Revelation 4:8:Holy, Holy, Holy,is the Lord God Almighty,who was, and is,and is to come.And if this seems like something that's really meaningful to you, you can find out more about my yoga practice at www.prayerandyoga.com. So, make a little space in your schedule (just about fifteen minutes), get into some comfy clothes, find a quiet spot, and let's get started.

How are you feeling? I've got two different meditations for you today, so you can have a chance to choose whether you're feeling like a twelve minute meditation or if you're ready to move up to a fifteen minute meditation. Or if that seems like too much for today, or you want to use one of the earlier ones, no worries - just head over to the podcast page and pick one of the other meditations that were meaningful to you. This twelve minute meditation focuses again on our foundation, and the fifteen minute meditation brings you back to your breath, so if you're not sure which to choose, feel free to choose based on the focus for the day. Remember that you are welcome here and there's no pressure, no obligation, just an invitation. So make a little space in your schedule (twelve or fifteen minutes this time), find a quiet spot, and let's get started.

Do you have a favorite scripture or a favorite story in the Bible? Today, let's try a different form of meditation, hoping that maybe you'll find one that you connect with. I'm reminded that this practice of meditation is an invitation to be with God, so maybe a writing meditation might be the thing for today that will draw you close to God. Or maybe not. If this isn't your thing, no problem - you can always choose another meditation from the podcast. But today, if you're up for it, let's try a writing meditation. Find a meaningful passage of scripture or a quote that resonates with you. You might start with a shorter one and then try a longer passage another time. For this meditation you may want to pause the audio occasionally to give yourself time to write. Remember there's not really a right way to do these things, so do whatever works best for you. I hope you'll enjoy the chance to see a meaningful scripture or quote more deeply. So, make a little space in your schedule (just about twelve minutes), find a quiet spot, and let's get started.

You've made it to the end of Week Two! Woohoo!! Today our meditation focuses on our thoughts. And I'd love to know your thoughts about your experience so far. After you finish your meditation for today, would you mind letting me know? Feel free to comment and share more of your experience. Let me know if there's anything I should change, or anything that has been especially helpful. But first, make a little space in your schedule (just about ten minutes), find a quiet spot, and let's get started.

Let's go for a walk! Today, I thought we'd try a different form of meditation, hoping that maybe you'll find one that you connect with. If this isn't your thing, no problem - you can always choose another meditation from the podcast. But today, if you're up for it, let's try a walking meditation. If the weather is cooperating for today, find a place you like to walk, maybe in your neighborhood, or a local park, and if it's cold or rainy, feel free to walk at the local YMCA, or the mall, or even on a treadmill - although that might require a little more imagination on your part. If you do choose a more public place, you may want to wear headphones, so that you'll be less likely to be interrupted. I hope you'll enjoy the chance to see the outside world in a new light. So, make a little space in your schedule (just about ten minutes), find a quiet spot, and let's get started.

How are you feeling? I've got two different meditations for you today, so you can have a chance to choose whether you're feeling like a seven minute meditation or if you're ready to move up to a ten minute meditation. Or if that seems like too much for today, or you want to use one of the earlier ones, no worries - just head over to the podcast page and pick one of the other meditations that were meaningful to you. This is the seven minute meditation, focusing again on your thoughts. The ten minute meditation brings you back to your breath, so if you're not sure which to choose, feel free to choose based on the focus for the day. Remember that you are welcome here and there's no pressure, no obligation, just an invitation. So make a little space in your schedule (seven or ten minutes this time), find a quiet spot, and let's get started.

Are you ready to try a new thing? Today, I thought we'd try a different form of meditation, hoping that maybe you'll find one that you connect with. If this isn't your thing, no problem - you can always choose another meditation from the podcast. But today, if you're up for it, let's try an object meditation. See if you can find an object that is meaningful to you, that you can comfortably hold in your hand or your lap. Choose something that brings you joy or peace or happiness. One of the objects I like to use was a gift - it's a cross made out of a bullet, and was given to me by one of my yoga students who was a missionary's kid in Africa. I don't remember the specific country, but after their civil war, they made these crosses as a reminder that Christ brings ultimate peace. One of my desires is to be a peacemaker, and so this object reminds me of that calling and of Christ's great gift of peace to us. After your meditation, I'd love to hear about the object you chose. Just respond in the comments and tell me your story. But for now, make a little space in your schedule (just about seven minutes), find a quiet spot, and let's get started.

You've made it to the end of Week One! Congratulations!! Today our meditation focuses on our thoughts. In yoga, we often call the ways our thoughts are jumbled and chaotic the "monkey mind". My prayer is that this meditation would help you to calm your "monkey mind."

So today, I thought we'd try something a little different. My hope is that I can share some different forms of meditation over the next few weeks and that maybe you'll find one or more that you connect with. If this isn't your thing, no problem - you can always choose another meditation from the podcast. But today, if you're up for it, let's try a music meditation. It probably works best to choose a song that's instumental, without words, and has a slow beat or pace, and it's easier if the song is close to 5 minutes long, or if you can repeat it. If you'd like a suggestion - you might try one from David Nevue at davidnevue.com (I used Winding Down =). Since it's about 4 1/2 minutes, I started the music after the chime in the meditation).

Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It’s a way of entering into the quiet that’s already there – buried under the 50,000 thoughts the average person thinks every day. – Deepak ChopraI don't know how I came to this conclusion, but I've discovered that meditation is more about focus than about clearing your mind - that when you can learn to pay attention to just one thing, like your breath or your heartbeat, or some meaningful word, then your mind clears itself. So, if you're still not quite sure about all this and two minutes feels like forever, don't worry. Just keep focusing on one thing, and the rest will come with practice.

I'm so glad you're here! I once heard a speaker at a retreat say that spiritual practices are invitations from God to us. That idea is changing the way I view things like prayer and meditation - it reminds me that what God really desires is to be with us. So I want you to know that this meditation journey is an invitation. An opportunity for you to hear the quiet whispers of God reminding you that you are loved. Know that you are welcome here and that there's no pressure, no obligation, just an invitation. So, make a little space in your schedule (just about two minutes), find a quiet spot, and let's get started.