Finding Balance in the Presence of the Beloved

Just as a spinning dancer must keep returning
his eyes to a given point to maintain his balance,
so you must keep returning your focus to me.

I’ve previously mentioned that a spiritual resource that many of my Christian patients find meaningful is Sarah Young’s devotional, Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence. It’s a collection of daily reflections written as if Jesus is speaking directly to us. They are words of encouragement, comfort, and reassurance based on Jesus’s own words of hope, guidance, and peace within Scripture.

Recently, one of the book’s readings particularly spoke to me. I should also say that I’m drawn to understand and envision the speaker of these words as “the Beloved,” one of any number of names we can use when seeking to describe our experience of the loving and transforming Presence within and beyond all things. These names include “Holy One,” “Divine Presence,” “God,” “Jesus,” “Living Light,” “Great Spirit,” “Sacred Mystery”. . . the list goes on.

Following is my slightly-adapted version of the April 25 reading from Jesus Calling, one that is inspired by Hebrews 12:2 and Psalm 102:17.

______________________

Make me the focal point as you move through this day. Just as a spinning dancer must keep returning his eyes to a given point to maintain his balance, so you must keep returning your focus to me.

Circumstances are in flux, and the world seems to be whirling around you. The only way to keep your balance is to fix your eyes on Me, the One who never changes.

If you gaze too long at your circumstances, you will become dizzy and confused. Look to Me, refreshing yourself in My Presence, and your steps will be steady and sure.

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• The Soul’s Beloved
• You Are My Goal, Beloved One
• Be In My Mind, Beloved One
• Your Peace Is With Me, Beloved One
• Beloved and Antlered
• Meeting (and Embodying) the Lover God
• Seeking Balance
• Balance: The Key to Serenity and Clarity
• Memet Bilgin and the Art of Restoring Balance
• May Balance and Harmony Be Your Aim
• Aligning With the Living Light
• Returning the Mind to God
• The Beauty and Challenge of Being Present in the Moment
• A Prayer for the Present Moment
• A Prayer for Dancers
• Aristotle Papanikolaou on How Being Religious Is Like Being a Dancer
• Not Whether We Dance, But How
• The Art of Dancing as the Supreme Symbol of the Spiritual Life
• The Soul of a Dancer

Images: Dancer unknown.