I am moved by contemplative texts

A few weeks ago, I went to my first Shiva in support of a grieving colleague. Shiva is a Hebrew word meaning “seven” and refers to a seven-day period of mourning by the immediate family of the deceased. The experience was quite beautiful and felt familiar. Family members and guests recited prayers from the book Jewish Prayers for a House of Mourning. The prayers were recited with everyone turning to face East. Some of the prayers read like poetry. Here’s an example:

I do not need special moments to think of you, for you are always in my thought. Nevertheless, I can give thanks for the blessing of your life, your companionship, and everything you meant to me. Your absence is still a cause of sadness, but your love lives on, and what we were to each other strengthens and sustains me. You live in my heart and your virtues inspire me to make the most of every day."

How simple yet deeply resonate words that moved my heart immediately into a contemplative state and in full solidarity with the mourning family. While in the midst of the tightly knit Jewish community, I looked around the room taking in the moment and pondered on the importance of daily contemplative prayers/meditations/poetry/prose/philosophical texts. These types of texts sway my heart and puts me squarely in a thoughtful frame of mind.

I am going to be honest, some days I don’t feel moved by Bible verses. On those days, I feel most connected to God when I read an inspirational poem, hum a hymn from the Methodist hymn book, a meditation from Marcus Aurelius’s book meditation or an excerpt from Thich Nhat Hanh’s book on How to Love or Thomas Merton’s reflections. While these aren’t sacred texts, they are sacred nonetheless in the quiet early mornings when I sit calmly with a cup of tea, pray for my family and friends, meditate in silence and then read a few pages from one of these sources. They connect me to God and my purpose for the day. It took me years to realize that sitting with God’s words is not limited to just the Bible.

I am greatly for my firsthand Shiva experience. It confirmed what I’ve instinctively known - God has a multitude of ways to beckon us to reverence. Reading holy text is an important way but not the only way. Poetry, spiritual reflections, singing my great-grandmother’s favorite hymn, walking in nature, sitting in silence, lighting a candle for a loved one and kneeling in prayer are all holy, sacred moments that are accessible to me.