The comparison cup

“Inside the Great Mystery that is, we don’t really own anything. What is this competition we feel then, before we go, one at a time, through the same gate?”

Each of us are created gifts of God. Individual blessings and gifts. Why is it then that we often find ourselves comparing ourselves with one another? “In her book, On the Wings of Self Esteem, Louise Hart warns: ‘comparison sets us up for unhealthy competition. It drives wedges between people, creates separation, and enforces conformity.’ When we consistently compare ourselves with others we can end up rejecting our self - one of God’s beloved creatures - and we follow someone else’s dream instead of our own.”

Breathprayer:

Breathe in: I am...

Breathe out:...A gift of God

Reflection:

Find another cup and set it alongside of yours.

Sit quietly, looking at the two cups.

Enjoy the uniqueness of each cup.

Reflect on your own originality.

Think of yourself with others.

Bring any comparison and competition to God.

Listen to God’s message to you.

Offer gratitude to God for who you are.

Scripture: Romans 9:19-26

But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use?”

Journal:

How do I fall into the trap of comparison?

What do I need to let go of and grow from?

Prayer;
Thank God for who you are....

Cup of Mercy

“The dialogue with God which begins with the confession of one’s own failures is not depressing; it is liberating. At last perhaps even for the first time, we have been honest with ourselves about what we are; and we have been honest with the one Person before whom there is no deception.” - Emilie Griffin

Each of us has imperfections, and failures and often it is those things that bring us to God. God is not afraid of our failures and is willing to meet with us and them. Jesus most commonly was in the presence of those who knew they were flawed. In fact it was those who thought they were perfect that he criticized and challenged the most. God does not expect us to be perfect God desires for us to strive for more and better for ourselves and others.

Breathprayer:

Breathe in: Held in your mercy...

Breathe out:...cradled in your love

Reflection:

Is there something in your life that you consider a failing?

Can you describe it in one or two words?

Write these down on a piece of paper and place it in your cup.

Hold the cup in your hands and imagine it is you.

Meet face to face with that failure

Allow your emotions to be present for as long as you are able

Take that failure and your emotions to God

Ask for grace and mercy from God and yourself

Take out the peace of paper and tear it up or even burn it as a symbol of letting go of this failure and giving it to God.

Scripture: Psalm 25

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

O my God, in you I trust;

do not let me be put to shame (Ps. 25:1-2)

Journal:

One failure I still need to forgive myself for is...

God of mercy....

Prayer:

“Wellspring of Mercy, you welcome me home.

You understand my human failings.

You embrace me in my incompleteness.

You help me move on from failures and defeat.

How good and gracious is your kindness to me.”

(Joyce Rupp prayer)

Cleansing the Cup

March 14, 2012

“You have many different natures. Light and dark. Kind and mean. Inconsistent and predictable. You’ll never be perfect. But you can be better than you are now. For your own sake, try.”

-Nancy Wood

Each of us has stains that need to be worked on constantly. Each of us has stains that we can get rid of and stains we cannot. Today consider what some of the stains are that may need a little spiritual work so that your inner character and being can become more whole. At the same time acknowledge some of the things that perhaps may be a part of you, and consider handing those to God.

Breathprayer:

Breathe in: Create in me....

Breathe out: A clean heart...

Reflection:

Look closely at your cup. Does it have any stains?

Consider your own inner stains and ask God to be present with them. Be still with God and your stains as they rise to the surface. Consider God cleansing your stains, washing them...

You may want to take your cup to the sink and wash it prayerfully as you pray for a cleaning of your own spirit.

Scripture: Psalm 51

Create in me a clean heart, O God and put a new and steafast spirit within me (Ps. 51:10)

First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean (Mt. 23:26)

Journal:

What are the stains in your life that you feel God calling you to address...

Are their stains you consider irremovable? Why? Can you have God touch those stains in a healing way?

Prayer:

Create in me a clean heart, O God

And renew a right spirit within me

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation

and renew a right spirit within me.

Shadow Side

“Making friends with you shadow helps facilitate your acceptance of yourself as a less-than-perfect human being. We all have a dark side; we are not all light.” - William A. Miller

Everyone of us has a dark side to our personality. I often find myself saying to people in counseling that as much as we don’t want those things to be a part of who we are the best thing we can do for our own health is to accept those shadow sides. It is then what we do with them that matters. Our shadows can be what makes us stronger, to strive for more, to long to be better human beings. Our shadows only become a problem when we let them abuse others. Shadows may come in the form of judgement, jealousy, lust, greed, hatred. But as we work on these things we may find ourselves becoming more compassionate, more giving, more thankful. “In Make Friends with Your Shadow, William Miller reminds us that Jesus was one of the greatest supporters of getting to know the shadow side of our personality. He points out that Jesus’ wise and insightful teachings are ‘an understanding of wholeness’ that includes both the known and unknown, or unwanted, parts of our personality. Jesus was a promoter of truth. he often pressed others to look deeply and to discover their true identity.” - Joyce Rupp

Breathprayer:

Breathe in: Holy God....

Breathe out:...reveal my shadows

Reflection:

Place your cup in such a way that it casts a shadow

Look into that shadow, allow it to reveal your own shadows

What do the cup and it’s shadow have to teach you today?

Make friends with your shadow

Ask God to reveal new insight to you and your shadow side so that you might see it as a part of you for teaching, growth and wholeness

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

How can you say to your neighbor: “Let me take the speck out of your eye” while the log is in your own eye?”

Journal:

What qualities do you have that you would rather not? Consider how they might make you more whole. Take your shadows to God and ask the Holy to reveal new light and insight into how you might live with your shadows.

Prayer:

Holy God help me to see my shadows as a part of me. Reveal to me light in their midst. Help me to know how to grow, while accepting who I am and who you desire me to be.

The Perfect Cup

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life.” Anne Lamott

“Scripture scholar point out that the verse, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” has been translated incorrectly. The actual text reads:”Be whole as God is whole.” Wholeness implies a process, a gradual coming together into a oneness in which all the parts are integrated, but not necessarily perfect. Wholeness or holiness takes a lifetime of ups and downs. It can never be accomplished apart from divine help and guidance or without the interaction of our lives with others.”

Breathprayer:

Breathe in: Loved, loved...

Breathe out:....I am loved

Reflection:

Hold the cup in your hands and examine it

Colour, texture, painting. Notice if there are any flaws, marks, chips.

Now close your eyes and picture yourself being held in God’s hands. Imagine the holy cradling you, examining you and smiling at you with love and care. Imagine God enjoying who you are flaws and gifts.

Scripture: Psalm 139

For it was you who formed my inward parts;

you knit me together in my mothers womb.

I praise you for I am....wonderfully made.

Journal:

What are you expectations of self? Of Others?

What are realistic and unrealistic?

Prayer:

Thank you God for loving me just the way I am, help me to love myself also.

Today I will not criticize or find fault with myself of others.

The Chipped Cup

“The Sufis say that real truth is always spoken with love...Can we approach ourselves with kindness, may we be loving and gentle with ourselves, with our clumsiness, with our slowness to change, with our habits, with our tender hearts?” Wayne Muller

“Accepting our less than perfect selves is one of those big hurdles that needs to be face in order to mature on the spiritual path. While it is essential for us to continually grow into more loving persons, it is equally important for us to value and accept who we are. This is a week not to criticize ourselves because of our flaws but rather, to look at them and see what they can tell us about our relationship with God and with others.” Joyce Rupp

Ready to Receive

“Clay is molded into vessels, and because of the space where there is nothing, you can carry water. Space is carved out from a wall, and because of the place where there is nothing, you can receive light. Be empty, and you will remain full...” - Lao-Tsu

Sometimes the greatest gift of an empty time in our lives is that it forces us to receive. Many of us are better givers than receivers. But when we are given to we often learn what we really have in friends, family, and loved ones. Today is about opening yourself up to receive from God and others.

Breathprayer:

Breathe in: I am ready....

Breathe out: ....to receive

Reflection:

Hold the empty cup in your hands

notice the empty space that has room to be filled

Hold the cup up as if in a prayer for the holy to fill it

pause for a moment and allow God to fill the empty spaces in your cup, your life, your body.

Now get something to pour into the cup (water, coffee, tea, wine...)

slowly sip and feel the presence of God entering your being.

Scripture: Psalm 81

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it...

Journal:

Remember a time when you received...

Is it hard for you to receive? Why?

In what ways to you need to open up to receive...

Prayer:

Holy One help me to open myself up to receive from others, help me to let go of what I need to so that I might be filled up with blessing from you.