Lucy wrote a great post recently about the rabbit holes down which her mind tumbled while engaging in a little contemplation of Psalm 13.
I spoke a bit about the intrusion of monkey mind myself a while back. (I always type that expression “money mind” and have to go back and correct it. Telling slip, methinks!)
But reading Lucy’s post it occurred to me that perhaps the rabbit holes are sometimes not just neutral thoughts that happen and must be set aside, but can be something positive.
Speaking only for myself, a selfishness creeps into my experiences of prayer, meditation or Lectio Divina. I want it to be a transcendent experience. And once in what feels like about 1000 years, there is a split-second of “Ah! Almost”. More frequently, but still less often than I would like, a stillness descends. Although I try to notice and then set them aside calmly, I am often impatient with the mental intrusions that prevent me having a “spiritual experience”.
But what if the rabbit holes sometimes have something to tell us?
Perhaps it’s like dreams. When we dream, our subconscious mind dredges up all kinds of interesting things to present to us. Somewhere in the weird jumble of falling, flying, being chased, shot at, conversing with people we hardly know in real life, there can be nuggets of truth, directions for us to explore.
What if the rabbit holes of prayer and meditation are like dreams? What if in among the pointless chatter we can discern the true directions in which we are being called?
The incarnate Word is with us,
is still speaking, is present,
always, yet leaves no sign
but everything that is.
Wendell Berry
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
well said, tess. it is learning when to listen and when to ‘set aside’ that is the real challenge for me. i find that when i listen to all that is around me, themes begin to appear. following the themes rather than every little detour that wants to bounce into my head feels more grounded for me. i am realizing that when I am open there is so much more opportunity to hear. when i start to get anxious I am often reminded of the words, “be still and know that i am God”. the verse has a way of bringing immediate peace and calm.
so glad to be journeying alongside you. your words so often resonate with me in ways i have not articulated on my own.
Ditto, kiddo
saw this definition of “burrow” and thought i would share it with you.
“move underneath or press close to something in order to hide oneself or in search of comfort”
Love it! Thank you. Another word I like in the same vein is snuggle.