Appreciating My Own Reflection

I was not very reflective by nature.

I am an extrovert, more interested in talking to people than in reflecting. People fascinate me. I love irony, and I love words. My mind gets caught up in weighing all the aspects of a situation to resolve the issues and conflicts. There was so much to think about that I did not take the time for real reflection.

I am learning the power of reflection.

It has taken me a long time. I have searched for spiritual depth, the Holy in many different ways for as long as I can remember. A very insightful person, after hearing the story of my searching, asked me why I got bored and gave up each time. He heard my story not as a series of failures demonstrating my shallowness and lack of commitment. He saw me being drawn deeper, toward a more intimate spiritual relationship. He saw that I was not willing to accept anything less than that.

I began practicing reflection, not to show how deep I was but to begin becoming reflective.  I learned about contemplative disciplines, and I began practicing them. I began learning how to spend time being still. I began learning how to listen. I began listening to the Holy, to myself, and to other people. I began taking time regularly to listen to what silence has to tell me, beyond the irony and beneath the words.

Now I invite people to spend a few hours every few months reflecting and listening with me. We go somewhere peaceful and begin learning to appreciate our own reflection together. I would be glad to tell you more about these Days of Reflection, and meet you there.

Do you take time to listen to the silence?

What does your reflection tell you this week?

[Image by MSVG]