Thank you for your response to the need this month for furniture and furnishings. There are always needs but some are more immediate than others.
CENTERING PRAYER
Sandy Guancial and I attended Formation Training by Contemplative Outreach in June, which qualified us to teach "The Method of Centering Prayer." Contemplative Outreach is a spiritual network of individuals and small faith communities committed to living the contemplative dimension of the Gospel in everyday life through the practice of Centering Prayer.
In the words of Thomas Keating, Cistercian monk and founder of the Centering Prayer Movement and of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., "Centering prayer is a method of moving our developing relationship with God to the level of pure faith." The Centering Prayer Movement was born out of the awareness that the contemplative life is not only for the cloistered but also for those who live in the noisy world of ordinary existence.
What does Contemplative Outreach have to do with us? Our greatest challenge is to give to a person in need with unconditional acceptance, realizing that we are all in need. We must set ourselves aside in order to see each person, including ourselves, as God sees us. When we see others filtered through our own ideas for happiness - our own agendas - we tend to judge rather than accept. One of the fruits of centering prayer is often the ability to see with new eyes, to begin to love our neighbor and to desire to meet their needs.
Sandy and I presented the Introduction to Centering Prayer to an existing prayer group in July. Another introduction will be scheduled in the near future.
Each year in cooperation with Manna International, we send containers of Magi gifts to areas of need. A Magi gift is a gift-wrapped shoebox filled with items ($15 - $20 in value) appropriate for a child of particular age and gender. This year we are planning to send one container to Chihuahua, Mexico and another to Nairobi, Kenya. The gifts will go to an orphanage and children in the community in Mexico. In Nairobi the gifts will be given to children living on the streets through groups working with them. If your church or other group is interested in the Magi Project, please let me know. The Nairobi container will leave October 1 and the one for Mexico December 1.
THE GIFT OF OUR PRESENCE
On May 17, my brother-in-law died. Bob Hawkins never lost his childlike love for life. Every day was exciting and he possessed the unique ability to include everyone around him in his adventures. He was the oldest of 15 children and father of five. For family, friends and neighbors it's hard to imagine life without him. My sister mourns most of every day for the life she couldn't imagine would ever end. One day she asked anyone who could answer, "Do other people feel this awful when they lose someone? How could there have been so much suffering in this world and I haven't known it?" I've shared this in hopes you will take a moment to ponder the suffering of the people we seek to help. The greatest gift we can give them is the gift of our presence, knowing we can't take away their pain but we can listen and care.
Thank you for caring,
Rae England
Executive Director