Goodness

Goodness:

Goodness is the affirmation of creation as good, together with a sense of oneness with the universe and with everything created.

It is the disposition that perceives God’s love in everything. It recognizes the beauty of all creation in spite of the damage that human selfishness has imposed upon it.

As a result gratitude abounds in our hearts and a positive attitude characterizes our relationship with others and with the wear and tear of daily life.

–from Thomas Keating, Fruits and Gifts of the Spirit

A Simple Breath-Prayer of Goodness

Below is a breath prayer I learned a while ago and continue to find it a practice of deep nourishment. It lets us inhale the life essence of a Fruit, and then exhale it into the atmosphere around us.

• Take a few gentle breaths and relax your thoughts, your emotions, and any tension in your body.

• Breathe in goodness. Allow its energy and presence to fill you. Let this spiritual nutrient into your physical being, as well as your spirit and soul.

• As you breathe in goodness, feel it nourishing you and feeding you.

• Then breathe out goodness, letting it fill the atmosphere around you. Feel yourself sharing that goodness with all that is around you.

• Repeat this for several breaths, letting yourself be nourished by goodness while simultaneously nourishing the world. When you’re ready, rest in stillness for a few moments before returning to your day.

When we breathe in goodness, we remember we’re held by Divine Goodness; when we breathe it out, we become a conduit of that same grace.