paulbestill

Freedom!

Week Two of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises: God’s Ongoing Creation Creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (Romans 8:21) Freedom. I think if there is anything I desire out of the spiritual journey it is True Freedom. I am not thinking about theContinue reading “Freedom!”

“Do not fear…”

Week One of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises: God’s Unconditional Love for Me. The Ignatian Spiritual Journey begins with God speaking these words to God’s people: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you: I have called you by name, you are mine.When you pass through the waters I will be with you,and through the riversContinue reading ““Do not fear…””

Getting Out of the Way of Myself

Weekly I participate in a Teacher Assisted Self-Practice of Ashtanga Yoga at Bodhi Tree Studio. Liz Chamberlain is the Teacher. I wrote to her this reflection of a recent session: Liz, I have continued to think about what you said in regard to the pose Supta Kurmasana – Sleeping Tortoise Posture – “You have toContinue reading “Getting Out of the Way of Myself”

Our Essential, True-Self Identity (Part 1)

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.Continue reading “Our Essential, True-Self Identity (Part 1)”

Our Essential, True-Self Identity

An Introduction How I view myself will determine the entire spectrum of who I am. This is the fabric of my core self. One way that I do this is to create an image of myself that I believe will be received by the world. I carefully fabricate this image of myself and nurture itContinue reading “Our Essential, True-Self Identity”

The Spiritual Formation Practice of Submisson

I have been thinking a lot about submission these days. Actually this has been going on for sometime, but it is only recently that I am discovering this as a significant practice of spiritual formation. The discipline of submission does not surface very often. In a culture that embraces and pursues individualism, any conversation aboutContinue reading “The Spiritual Formation Practice of Submisson”

Suffering

Every day I hear of suffering and the death of people who woke up that day and were not expecting to experience the unjust suffering and death that came upon them. This is so hard and the feeling that is most prevalent in me is helplessness. I do not feel guilty about the goodness IContinue reading “Suffering”

Balance

Examen – Balance Discipleship and any journey of faith is ultimately about keeping one’s life in balance, which creates a freedom of expression in life. When we get out of balance, we lose this sense of center and become focused on the imbalance. Yoga has a lot to teach us about balance, but we oftenContinue reading “Balance”

Pursuing Something Greater than Right or Wrong Thinking

Can I live in the space above being right and wrong, and instead simply live in the space of just Being? Right and wrong living: eliminates curiosity presses me into proving I am right even though I am wrong changes my relationship with others causes me to miss the truth changes how I view myselfContinue reading “Pursuing Something Greater than Right or Wrong Thinking”

I Know You!

Hear Jesus speak these words: The sheep hear the shepherd’s voice. The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. The sheep fallow him because they know his voice. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I knowContinue reading “I Know You!”