A Meditation Exercise

In his book, Celebration of Discipline (pages 7&8), Richard Foster shares a meditation exercise that I’ve used often and find helpful. Foster says,

“In your imagination picture yourself walking along a lovely forest path. Take you time, allowing the blaring noise of our modern megalopolis to be overtaken by the sound of rustling leaves and cool forest streams. After observing yourself for a bit, take the perspective of the one walking, rather than the one observed. Try to feel the breeze upon your face as if it were gently blowing away all anxiety. Stop along the way to ponder the beauty of the flowers and birds.

When you are able to experience the scene with all your senses, the path breaks out onto a lovely grassy knoll. Walk out into the lush large meadow encircled by stately pines. After exploring the meadow for a time, lie down on your back looking up at the blue sky and white clouds. Enjoy the sights and smells. Thank the Lord for the beauty.

After awhile there is a deep yearning within to go into the upper regions beyond the clouds. In your imagination allow your spiritual body, shining with light, to rise out of your physical body. Look back so that you can see yourself lying in the grass and reassure your body that you will return momentarily. Imagine your spiritual self, alive and vibrant, rising up through the clouds and into the stratosphere. Observe your physical body, the knoll, and the forest shrink as your leave the earth.

Go deeper and deeper into outer space until there is nothing except the warm presence of the eternal Creator. Rest in His presence. Listen quietly, anticipating the anticipated. Note carefully any instruction given. With time and experience you will be able to distinguish readily between mere human thought that may bubble up to the conscious mind and the True Spirit which inwardly moves upon the heart. Do not be surprised is the instruction is terribly practical and not in the least what you thought of as “spiritual.” Do not be disappointed if no words come; like good friends, you are silently enjoying the company of each other. Breathe in God’s presence. Accept God’s love for you.

When it is time for you to leave, audibly thank the Lord for His goodness and return to the meadow. Walk joyfully back along the path until you return home full of new life and energy.”

In The Other Side of Silence, Kelsey provides over sixty pages of specific meditations. Another very enjoyable meditation entitled “Pull the Plugs” has the same purpose in mind and is described by Jo Kimmel in Chapter One of her book Steps to Prayer Power published by Abingdon Press.