Page 7 - Moravian Messenger July 2019

'Be still and know that I am God' (Psalm 46:10)
Lancashire District Conference Retreat Day 2019
This year's Lancashire District Conference Retreat day was on Saturday 13th April 2019 and was held at Chester Cathedral Retreat House. The theme was an Introduction to Christian Meditation, and this was hosted by David and Christine McKenna, Benedictine Oblates of the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM).
I, along with several members from Dukinfield Moravian Church attended, as well as individuals representing other congregations within the district.
From my personal perspective I have practiced 'Mindfulness' as a relaxation device in this busy world for many years - the definition of 'Mindfulness' is; a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique. In effect the ability to cease your racing mind from jumping from one topic to another and making you able to stop and smell the roses.
The WCCM's definition of Christian Meditation is 'coming to stillness of spirit and body'. Despite all the distractions of the modern-day world, this silence is perfectly possible for people today. But to reach this stillness we have to devote time to the work of silence. The practice seeks to be with God in the mind of Christ; meditation is not concerned with thinking but being. Meditation is a direct pilgrimage to your own centre, to your heart.
The experience was explained within the first session with use of the teachings of John Main OSB (1926-1982) who had opened the first Christian Meditation Centre at his Monastery in London in 1975. Christian Meditation was shown to date back throughout time and was even quoted to by St Anthony of the
Desert in the 4th Century: 'When you know you are praying you are not totally praying. When we do not know you are praying, you are truly praying.'
Again, from my own feelings I looked forward to the actual practice of the meditation - we were led into this with a prayer and the sound of a gong to start our experience. A mantra was recommended by the WCCM - 'Ma-ra- na-tha' to be said in rhythm with your breathing and repeated. This mantra is Aramaic and means 'Come Lord'; though I am told by other attendees that the word 'Hallelujah' is also something that helps you to chant silently to enter into your own space. I was concerned about carrying out this encounter in a room filled with up to 30 adults - though I love fellowship at Church I was unsure how distracting this would be for the meditation. I soon found my own inner rhythm and the capability to concentrate on my mantra; my concern then was the ease of feeling that may lead me to sleep as I felt totally relaxed in my body and mind. This didn't happen - but a purely personal profound refreshment of my senses did which is hard to describe. A feeling of being part of something bigger than my immediate thoughts and concerns washed over me and though I was aware of noises around me and slight movements this was at a lesser level so it was almost like I was sat on a hill looking down on a busy road but not taking part in the traffic rushing along it.
We were brought out of the state after 15 minutes - a normal meditation can last over 20 minutes.
Dinner time led to conversations about the morning sessions and the chance to share in everyone's own feelings around meditation - some of this took part in the grounds of the Retreat house whilst others made for the Chapel for both silent
reflection and quiet discussion.
The afternoon started off with a session of Contemplative Walking - again defined as '... practice where close attention is paid to the action of walking. It is not thinking or contemplating while walking (which is also delightful), but being mindful of the muscles of the body, the placement of the feet, balance, and motion.' This was not for everyone where some members did feel slightly dizzy - however I did recognise that often when I walk home from work through a local park I had unknowingly been linking into this to help relieve stress from the working day.
We were able to hear more about the WCCM movement internationally and the day ended with a further period of meditation which was welcomed as another opportunity to sense the stillness. A prayer was given before all left for the day.
Thinking about this retreat day in hindsight I feel that in an world with ever increasing diversions and needs pulling at our lives there is very much a place for Christian meditation - stillness can be uncomfortable to start with but is now necessary to me to help to restore my faith and need in God. Members from Dukinfield also felt that there is a place for this in our Worship and hope to consider this in the future.
https://www.wccm.org
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Sr Penny Weir
Dukinfield
© Sr Penny Weir