" Blessing the Hour, Mindfulness, and Dwelling in the Present Moment" by Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP

Long ago when I was in elementary school, we would bless the hour. (St. Thomas More Catholic School in Arlington, Virginia. ) A designated child ( it was a special honor) would ring a bell , then the class would stop and say a prayer to bless the hour to remind us that God was with us. 

As a young Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister I introduced  my sixth graders  to contemplative practice. 

After lunch and recess, the children had fifteen minutes every day during religion class for quiet prayer and reflection. I offered several options. They could read  a spiritual story, write in their prayer journal (which I did not collect or grade), meditate,/ be in God's loving presence in whatever way felt comfortable for them.

Today, we hear a lot about mindfulness or centering prayer. Many adults and youth are discovering sacred practices which help them become more conscious of Divine Presence always with them in the ordinary every day moments of life. 

I rejoice that a growing number of us are  more deeply aware of Spirit energy filling us in our every breath, in our eating, walking and living every moment of the precious present moment.

"The miracle is not to walk on water," Thich Nhat Hanh writes, "The miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment. Peace is all around us, in the world and in nature- and within us- in our bodies and in our spirits. Once we learn to touch the peace, we will be healed and transformed.  It is not a matter of faith, it is a matter of practice. "
Living Buddha Living Christ, pp. 23-24.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP,
www.arcwp.org
sofiabmm@aol.com