The Space You Inhabit

Picture by Chewy

A Practice in Listening to the Inner Voice of Love 

The Lord is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”
I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
The Lord has punished me severely,
but he did not give me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.

— Psalm 118:14-20

Beloved,

Picture the tents of the righteous as the space you inhabit. It could be your physical home, but it is more than that. It is your personal domain, the parameters set around your emotions, intellect, heart, and body. Your tent is where your core self resides.

In your tent, you must first learn to be present to yourself. You must make peace with your own inner workings. “Who am I when no one is with me? What do I think about? What are my preferences and choices?” Be gracious, showing yourself the same hospitality you would a dear friend.

Then, when someone joins you, invite them into the shalom (peace, wholeness, wellbeing) you have already established. Speak of the good things I have done and am doing. Share your struggles as well as how I have helped you through them. Express gratitude for my presence and one another. In everything, give thanks.

—Love