Cabin Fever will teach you all things


Good morning all, Bore da pawb!

For Day 15 *For the next few weeks now I’m going to shift from using the Psalms for daily Bible verses and use some of the words of Jesus, these will be short and out of context but I encourage you to go and look at the whole chapters that they are from.
Also, once we have passed Easter I will be making some changes to the daily rhythm exercises so keep your eyes peeled*

I love the Muppets. I grew up watching them on TV and I loved it when their movies came on the telly. For me each Advent time only truly begins after I watch Muppets Christmas Carol! I particularly love the songs in their films and the one I’ve shared with you today isnot only brilliant but apt for our current circumstances.
Cabin Fever. I think we are all experiencing this now to some degree or other. Whether we are completely locked in due to self isolating, or limited in our comings and goings to exercise periods and essential shopping or if you are one of those awesome ESSENTIAL workers who are keeping everything going and are locked in to a cycle of work and washing more intensive than you have ever experienced with very real danger as a co-worker.

We can feel very claustrophobic and cooped up because of all this. I want us to ask the question though, “Can I make use of this?”
That is not to say, can you use this time to learn an instrument, read those books you’ve been meaning to, start decorating the house or maybe, in my case, tidy your bloomin’ study! All these things are good and a fair use of this gift of time but what I am talking about is not FILLING TIME or organising SPACE.
I’m talking about using the TIME and SPACE.
There is a story told from the traditions of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, the earliest Monks and Nuns from the early second century.
A brother went to Abba Moses to ask for a word of advice on living the monastic life. Moses replied, “Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.” 
The suggestion being, that to go and sit in your cell (a monk’s room) would help you to develop an internal practice which would sustain and motivate you when you were outside of your cell. To spend time in your confined space and let it actually shape you. Sit in the silence of it and do not dwell on YOU but dwell in GOD.
Another leader of Monks, Abba Ammonas knew the challenge it was for most people to focus properly in their cell.
He said, “A person may remain for a hundred years in his cell without learning how to live in the cell.” Just as standing in a garage does not make you a car, going to church does not make you a Christian, so simply being in the cell would not make you a monk; The true monastic practice was getting to know what your cell, you confines, your SPACE had to offer – the time to be alone with God.
*****


MORNING
Wake, but do not move to begin with. Be aware of yourself, the air going in and out of your lungs, be aware of your senses and what they are telling you, feel the aches and pains of life that were dulled a bit by rest.

Give thanks, because all you feel means you are alive, the world is better for you being in it.

Take a moment to think of ONE positive thing you will try to do today.

Mark 10:44-45 (Read through slowly 3 times)
“and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

BREAKFAST
As you make your breakfast, be mindful of each thing you do as you do it. Be fully present.
As you consume your breakfast offer thanks for the producers and distributers of our food, water and power.

LUNCH
Pause. Sit. Breathe. You are still here.
Follow the same routine of mindfulness and thanks as at breakfast.

DINNER/TEA
Same as for lunch

EVENING BEFORE SLEEP

Be aware of yourself, the air going in and out of your lungs, be aware of your senses and what they are telling you, feel the aches and pains of life that will be dulled a bit by rest.

Give thanks, because all you feel means you are alive and have lived, the world is better for you being in it.
Thanks be to God.
Amen

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