HeartSpeak--What to Give a King?

Today we meditate on the words taken from a 20th century mystic, whose inner locutions were collected into a book titled "He and I".
You can find a solid biography of her here, but this week's focus is not on the messenger, but the message...and, in particular, finding a solid starting point in conversation with God.
Last week, we ran to catch up with Him, saw his gaze as He told us to follow Him. Now, we need to get to know Him.
His Words and Actions in Sacred Scripture help us understand Who He was in His Earthly Life, but so many Saints and mystics claim that He desires us to know Him more--and really, how can you truly LOVE someone you don't know?

What do we give Someone Who, in His Essence, needs nothing? How do we approach the King of Ages? What could possibly catch the eye of Beauty, Incarnate?

"...Give yourself to Love so that Love may possess you. Don't divide yourself into two - one part for you and the other for Me - since I long to have all of you and cherish this hope. Your love quenches My thirst. I am most demanding: you see I want My children to be wholly and utterly Mine at every moment. So don't withhold a thing. Don't take anything of yourselves away. You would steal from Me if you did, because everything is Mine.

If I require this of you it is because My yearning for you is a consuming fire. And My yearning is born of My love. Do you understand? Do you at last believe? Do you acknowledge My power to love? And if Mine is a love beyond all others, then how could you fail to go beyond your usual ways of loving to make your home in the higher realms - the realms where all is simplicity in our oneness. Above all when you know that it is there that I'm waiting for you and that great is My need to Meet you.

Meditate on this need of Mine and you will call to mind that it is in your power to give Me this alms. Then remember the value of a free gift - the gift of oneself ­when offered out of tenderness. What inexpressible joy will be His who receives it. He will multiply His blessings so that the one that receives them will be lost in wonder and gratitude. 'What have I done to deserve the kindness of My God?' he will ask. And I shall reply, 'You loved Him with all your striving and you let Him love you'"

HeartSpeak--Contemplation Amidst the Clamor of the World

Distraction. We have it constantly—more, I’d propose, than any age past. In a world that seeks to entertain us, enthrall our senses, capture our total attention and encapsulate our memories, this generation is seeking that Still Small Voice that reaches in and rends hearts anew.

Let’s admit it…we all have been touched (and often wounded) by this clamorous world we abide in. We’ve “been there, done that.” (Cue St. Augustine’s “Late Have I loved Thee” … this is the cry of our generation.) What is worse, so many do not know how to enter into the world of Silence—where the heart and the intellect unite in the brilliance of intimate conversation with the One Who truly KNOWS us—each, individually. This silent world is where we are utterly laid bare, our entire being vulnerable—where our seeking, parched selves are welcomed, embraced and fully lifted to the dignity, mission and love we were created for. In an instant our inner reflection, like a mirror, shows us simultaneously our very insignificance, and yet our utter unique and invaluable worth. This silent world of prayer, HeartSpeak, contemplation—we prodigals fear. For it is there that we meet Love, Incarnate—the Wounded Godman (Isaiah 53:5), the One Who has called to us to be more than what we are by ourselves.

So we gladly remain distracted, all the while our hearts are drawn by that patient gaze and that whispered longing. “Arise my love…” (Song of Songs 2:10-14)

Why do we struggle so against that Hound of Heaven? Why do we think that uniting to Him, we will somehow lose ourselves, becoming that cookie-cutter idol of pietism so often found in “lives of the saints”? Can it be that, when choosing virtue, we can still maintain our own personalities—or must we abandon ourselves to this white-washed image we often see manifest? The real question should be, however, is are we brave enough to find out in a world that is literally falling into chaos?

I write this, today, as I begin a movement on social media, to try to engage my friends and followers to “put out into the deep” (Luke 5:4), take the plunge and begin a genuine step towards contemplation. I label this movement “HeartSpeak”, as it is just that…utilizing what we have—from art, to media, to spiritual reading—in order to inspire the imagination and internal conversation that are the stepping stones to true contemplation. All I ask of each of you, is to join with me in prayerful contemplation each week. I will post a photo, video, quote from spiritual reading or something else to help spark this journey towards authentic “prayer of quiet”. These posts will be titled, “HeartSpeak”, so you will know exactly my intention.

In contemplation, that quiet prayer, you think on these beautiful things—you dive deep into the meanings, you place yourself through your imagination, right in the midst of them. Like a child playing in an imaginary world, you find your mind fully engaged in these beautiful thoughts, images, sounds or words…and it is there, that you see HIM in your imagination. It is there that, from these beautiful things, you can begin to speak to Jesus as your mind depicts Him. He may not speak back to you, at first…He may, in your mind just listen…or gaze. Do not force this prayer of the intellect, imagination and heart. Just tell Him everything. Authentic Christian prayer is never self-emptying—it is always fully engaged.

You needn’t stay in that thought for very long…no need to force anything. Stay as long as you are able…it will sometimes be very easy to stay for a very long time, others it will be short and concise. Speak as you want to speak with HIM—no need for formality, awkwardness. He hears you on a daily basis, speaking with your friends and family. Why change that for HIM?

So, for those interested in joining—no need to identify, or post or really do anything but pray. IF, however, the Holy Spirit leads you to share the fruits of your prayer—please feel free.

Below, today, is our very first HeartSpeak. Start the video at 1:48:18 and end the video at 1:49:52. Place yourself running to catch up with Jesus.

May God bless us in our individual efforts towards uniting with Him!