A new way to do Monday morning

Today I started a new practice, again.  I've tried this several times before only to be pulled away by some competing detail.  Now I've incorporate the support of the parish office staff and my calendar to get me where I want to be.  Today, I started Monday by a meditative walk to contemplate the scripture for the coming week.

Maybe this sounds simple.  Maybe it is why not! Makes perfect sense!  And yes, all those things are true until you put my devotional and sermon preparation time up against the urgency someones else has for what that person believes I should be doing at the moment.

The meditative walk began by reading the scripture passage for this coming Sunday, reading reflective comments by other writers and reading Daily Feast.  I've mentioned this book before in my blog and continue to recommend it. (Its in electronic version from Amazon as well as hard cover.)

Then, I started out down the sun dappled road by my house.  The beginning 10 minutes, about, settles my mind into my body.  Then, as I walk I reflect on only one part of the passage.  So the next 30 minutes, about, I explore the words that come to mind, what I think they mean, how do I communicate that meaning to others, and well as a series of other questions.  Today, by the end of the walk I had a framework to begin reflecting on next Sunday's sermon.

In my reading from Daily Feast, I am passing on today's reflection on Proverbs.  While I won't be preaching on that lesson this Sunday, the passage and reflection are offered here:

From Daily Feast: Meditations from Feasting on the Word, Year B

Proverbs 31:10-31

This passage portrays a marriage that is neither egalitarian nor inegalitarian.  This is because it is to interested in comparing husband and wife to one another. Comparison, whether of equals or of unequals, implies a kind of opposition; but what characterizes the relationship here is mutual support.  Generous and empowering, it flows from each to the other and overflows the blessings on the family, the marketplace, and the whole city.

Telford Work