“I abandon all that I think I am, all that I hope to be, all that I believe I possess. I let go of the past, I withdraw my grasping hand from the future, and in the great silence of this moment, I alertly rest my soul.”
—Howard Thurman in Deep Is the Hunger (Friends United Press, 1978).
bernard hermant . unsplash
The first line of this quote, “I abandon all that I think I am,” reminds me of the exchange of rings in the liturgy of the celebration of a marriage. “N, I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you, in the Name of God” (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 317). Of course, Thurman goes even further than the vow at the exchange of rings. This prayer now turns over to God all that we think we are, all that we might hope to be, all that we imagine we possess: our past, present, and future. The result, in the silence of the moment, is that we mindfully rest into our soul, united to the God within us, and find that peace that words cannot describe.
This is freedom. I am no longer in charge. Doing the next right thing but not worrying about the results. Each of us striving to be the person God created us to be, not the person others may be calling us to be. Discerning and then doing what we think we are uniquely called to do. Hoping to find direction through spiritual practices and inner work as we live faithfully in community. Listening. Listening to other people’s stories. Then, at the right time, telling our own story. Learning how to forgive and to be forgiven. Being always grateful. Becoming a servant leader.
This is the life of surrender.
Joanna. Joannaseibert.com
Book Signing Wordsworth Books
Saturday, November 2, 2019 1 to 3 pm
Just in time for the holidays
A Spiritual Rx for Advent Christmas, and Epiphany
The Sequel to A Spiritual Rx for Lent and Easter
Both are $18. Money from sale of the books goes to Camp Mitchel Camp and Conference Center in Arkansas or Hurricane Relief in
The Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast