Welcome.
I'm Laura Collins,
And I'm so glad you're taking this time for yourself.
In this time of quiet meditation,
I'll be using the prayer attributed to St.
Francis.
This is a lovely way to start the day and also a good way to review your day as you fall asleep.
As you listen,
I invite you to let your mind pause on any word or phrase that stirs you.
If something catches your attention,
Stay there and let the rest of my words just flow over you.
Allow your heart to stay where it desires.
Let's start with some deep,
Relaxing breaths.
Take a breath all the way down into your belly.
Let it out with a sigh.
Do that a few times as you let yourself get very comfortable.
If you're sitting down,
Feel yourself in the seat.
If you're getting ready for the day ahead,
Or if you're lying down ready to fall asleep,
Let yourself be all the way down in the mattress.
Either way,
Do a quick scan over your body.
Notice where you're holding tension.
Release your tongue from the roof of your mouth.
Relax your jaw.
Let your eyeballs float in their sockets.
Shrug and release your shoulders.
Relax your tummy.
Loosen your pelvic floor.
Anywhere you notice yourself holding energy or clenching muscles,
See if you can breathe into that place and relax just a little more.
Listen now as I offer this prayer.
Holy One,
Make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred,
Let me bring love.
Where there is injury,
Pardon.
Where there is doubt,
Faith.
Where there is despair,
Hope.
Where there is darkness,
Light.
Where there is sadness,
Let me bring joy.
Oh Divine Love,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console.
To be understood as to understand.
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Holy One,
Make me a vessel of your peace.
Help me to carry your love to all I meet.
Show me who needs your love.
I will plant the seeds of your love.
Fill me with words of hope where I sense despair.
Who needs hope?
Show me,
Spirit.
Let me bring light into the darkness.
Show me who needs your light and fill me to radiate out and shine into the shadows.
Fill me with joy to share when I find sadness.
Who is it that needs more joy?
Open my eyes to see them and may my joy be authentic and a blessing.
Holy One,
Make me a channel of your peace.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Make me peace.
Let there be peace.
Peace.
Shalom.
Shanti.
Shanti.
Shanti.
Amen.
