Step 2 - AWAKENING
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Psalm 24:1
the world, and all who live in it.
Psalm 24:1
A PRAYER WALK THROUGH CREATION
If walking is not an option for you, find somewhere comfortable to sit outside, or by an open window, or you can prayer walk in your imagination.
As we learn to ‘be at one with the living God’ our souls and senses awaken again to the sheer wonder of all God’s creation. Through encountering its beauty and diversity, God continues to renew us and our relationship with creation.
Pause
Begin your prayer time by intentionally acknowledging that you are in the
presence of God. You may find it helpful to pause for a moment or make the sign of the cross.
Ask
Ask God for what you need, at this time.
Invite
Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you with wonder for God’s creation.
Sense
As you walk engage your senses in turn and take time to really notice what you can: See – Hear – Touch – Smell – Taste
View
Stop at different points along the way to take in different perspectives of the broader landscape: Above – Around – Below
Wonder
When you feel drawn to something, like Moses at the burning bush, take time to really explore it.
Notice
Engage your inner senses:
Listen for what God may be saying to you.
Notice what God may be showing you.
Become aware of any thoughts or feelings that may be emerging.
Colloquy
Talk with each member of the Trinity in turn about what you are noticing and, like all good conversations, take time to listen to their response.
Pray
At the end of your prayer walk you may like to finish with a time of thanksgiving or close with the Lord's Prayer.
As we learn to ‘be at one with the living God’ our souls and senses awaken again to the sheer wonder of all God’s creation. Through encountering its beauty and diversity, God continues to renew us and our relationship with creation.
Pause
Begin your prayer time by intentionally acknowledging that you are in the
presence of God. You may find it helpful to pause for a moment or make the sign of the cross.
Ask
Ask God for what you need, at this time.
Invite
Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you with wonder for God’s creation.
Sense
As you walk engage your senses in turn and take time to really notice what you can: See – Hear – Touch – Smell – Taste
View
Stop at different points along the way to take in different perspectives of the broader landscape: Above – Around – Below
Wonder
When you feel drawn to something, like Moses at the burning bush, take time to really explore it.
Notice
Engage your inner senses:
Listen for what God may be saying to you.
Notice what God may be showing you.
Become aware of any thoughts or feelings that may be emerging.
Colloquy
Talk with each member of the Trinity in turn about what you are noticing and, like all good conversations, take time to listen to their response.
Pray
At the end of your prayer walk you may like to finish with a time of thanksgiving or close with the Lord's Prayer.
Remember the chaplain, Kathryn Fleming, is available if you would like to talk through anything you have experienced.
You may also enjoy reading this extract from The Secret Garden pausing over any words and phrases that you are drawn to.
Over walls and earth and trees, and swinging sprays and tendrils, the fair green veil of tender little leaves had crept, and in the grass under the trees and the grey urns in the alcoves, and here and there and everywhere, were touches or splashes of gold and purple and the trees were showing pink and snow above his head, and there were fluttering of wings and faint sweet pipes and humming, and scents, and scents. And the sun felt warm upon his face like a hand with a lovely touch.
One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands alone, and throws one’s head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky, slowly changing and flushing and marvellous unknown things happening, until the East almost makes one cry out and one’s heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising sun – which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years.
One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again, something one cannot quite hear however much one tries.
Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark blue night with millions of stars waiting and watching, makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in someone’s eyes.
And it was like that when he first saw and heard and felt the Springtime inside the four high walls of the hidden garden. That afternoon the whole world seemed to devote itself to being perfect and radiantly beautiful and kind. Perhaps out of purely heavenly goodness the spring came and crowned everything it possibly could in to that one place.
Hodgson Burnett, Frances, The Secret Garden (London: Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1993), extracts from chapters 20 & 21.
Over walls and earth and trees, and swinging sprays and tendrils, the fair green veil of tender little leaves had crept, and in the grass under the trees and the grey urns in the alcoves, and here and there and everywhere, were touches or splashes of gold and purple and the trees were showing pink and snow above his head, and there were fluttering of wings and faint sweet pipes and humming, and scents, and scents. And the sun felt warm upon his face like a hand with a lovely touch.
One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands alone, and throws one’s head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky, slowly changing and flushing and marvellous unknown things happening, until the East almost makes one cry out and one’s heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising sun – which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years.
One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again, something one cannot quite hear however much one tries.
Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark blue night with millions of stars waiting and watching, makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in someone’s eyes.
And it was like that when he first saw and heard and felt the Springtime inside the four high walls of the hidden garden. That afternoon the whole world seemed to devote itself to being perfect and radiantly beautiful and kind. Perhaps out of purely heavenly goodness the spring came and crowned everything it possibly could in to that one place.
Hodgson Burnett, Frances, The Secret Garden (London: Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1993), extracts from chapters 20 & 21.