Kneeling knights

Gavin Thomas Murphy runs a website called GratitudeInAllThings.com where he looks to Ignatian Spirituality for strength and inspiration.

I went into my bedroom and felt drawn to kneel on my meditation mat. The view didn’t seem very photogenic, but I photographed it anyway. As I did so, I felt one with the universe for a moment or two. I felt humbled by the gesture of kneeling. I felt as though this is where I belonged. As I look at the photo now, I feel content knowing that I will return to this kneeling posture before I go to bed. It also evokes a warmth knowing that many Christians have gone before me to praise and honour their closest friend.

I am reminded of words from a spiritual leader in the Letter to the Ephesians. He says to other Christians: “I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:18-19). It seems to me that we are more in touch with the vastness of God when we are in a humble posture. We join with the saints who acknowledged their complete dependence, who grew in sensitivity to the love of Jesus, who emptied themselves to be filled with fullness.

I find consolation in a right relationship with a loving and awesome God. Being my own captain and in control of everything is not the way of love; it is with humility, tenderness and mindful clarity that leads to lasting peace and happiness. When we experience this to be true, we are less likely to be harsh on ourselves and on others. Our hearts mellow out of love for each other. We see that a life with God is a life with gratitude.