God is . . . (A Wandering Contemplative Practice)
A Collective Poem and Park Reflection
Last night our community gathered at a local park. We spent part of the time as a group engaging several contemplative prayers. Then I instructed everyone to wander the park for twenty minutes — walking, sitting, playing, whatever you want to do. But within that time — to consider the language:
GOD IS . . .
It was an exercise in several things. One, considering the all around — all encompassing presence of the Divine. It was about being open to the invitations that come just doing ordinary things, appreciating nature, laughing with kids, or getting lost in the cloud formations. But it was also a collective kind of exercise — what can we as a community say, in this time and place, about what we know — what we experience — what we wonder about God in such a setting.
Here is the practice as we worked through it last night.
As you wander the park, feel free to play and seek out parts of the park you want to see (or your kids want to see). Play ball — throw a frisbee — walk the gardens. In whatever you do, be aware of where your attention is drawn; notice what is stirring within you as a response. Receive each invitation as a gift, a catalyst for reflection.
How does this reveal new things to you?
How do you see this as a new perspective about who God is?
As soon as you feel like you find your attention drawn to something that gives you words . . . fill in your statement ‘God is . . . ‘ on the paper given to you.
God is . . . a collaborative poem.
Participate in the shared voice of community.
As we come back together, be ready to share your “God is . . .” statement. We’ll listen together as we hear the poem that forms as we share each of our lines together.
It is not in our statement that we “capture” God, neither do we “capture” God in a community of statements; nor can all the languages of the world provide us with the full picture of the Divine. But, the words we speak in time and place can give us insight to our growth, our blind spots, and our shared experience.
The result of our collective GOD IS . . . poem:
God is . . . a brother,
God is . . . frriends, family, comforting, guiding, beauty;
God is . . . the winding path, the shoddy bridge;
God is . . . the switch back and the dead end;
God is . . . life;
God is . . . unfathomably diverse;
God is . . . the mystery below the surface;
God is . . . vibrant;
God is . . . full;
God is . . . surprising;
God is . . . peace and beauty;
God is . . . bigger than I can understand but is everywhere for me to engage with and enjoy;
God is . . . creative, colorful, complicated;
God is . . . good smells, breeze, a covering;
God is . . . parent with child, husband with wife, family;
God is . . . themes and variations;
God is . . . breath;
God is . . . present;
God is . . . waiting;
God is . . . water;
God is . . . a visionary, creative, merciful, and extraordinary. So full of mystery and wonder.
God is . . . kind and compassionate, forgiving, and understanding.
God is . . . capable of breathtaking creation.
Amen.
