The first thing I heard today when I was praying with these readings was “heart is more important than tradition.  Go to the heart first.”  As I sat with these words I was reminded that sometimes I let knowledge, rules and doctrine overshadow my experience, my relationship with God.  But I felt God saying something more.  I was being reminded that we don’t have to choose heart or head, but that both are important.  Yes, my spirituality is, at its core, about my relationship with God, my experience, but it can be facilitated by the head knowledge, the doctrines, the Tradition.  It was like God was saying both are are important just don’t forget what is at the core, the relationship.

So then, with this in mind, I started praying with the Old Testament reading from Genesis.  I was struck again by the relationship, this time, of Creator to the created.  And, even though the word is not used in this particular passage, I could feel the love of the Creator as creation blossomed.   I could feel the goodness that flows from love.  I was reminded of the awe and wonder I experienced this week as I gazed out the windows of the chapel at the retreat center to experience the beauty of the “black and whiteness” of the snow on bare trees and stillness of that experience of God.  Once again, Love, the core, the relationship.  All of this brought me back to one of my favorite prayers:

Lord my God, when Your love spilled over
into creation
You thought of me.
I am
from love                    of love             for love.
Let me hear, O God, always
recognize,
cherish,
and enjoy your goodness in all of creation.

Direct all that is me toward your praise.
Teach me reverence for every person, all things.
Energize me in your service.

Lord God
may nothing ever distract me from you
love . . .
neither health nor sickness
wealth nor poverty
honor nor dishonor
long life nor short life.

May I never seek nor choose to be other
than You intend of wish.         Amen.

Sr. Marie Schwan and Jacqueline Syrup Bergan

Today, as we travel these moments of our journey, these moments of time, may we take time to ask How is God inviting me into deeper relationship today, into the heart of the matter, into Love?