Learning How to See invites listeners into contemplative practices that strengthen our ability to see through the eyes of love. CAC faculty member Carmen Acevedo Butcher leads this guided meditation:
We’re going to meditate on love in a very personal and contemplative way that takes in all people, all creatures, and remembers how much God loves us….
Look together through the eyes of love and meditate on and with a very common trinity of words: I love you. As contemplatives do, go deeper with these. Wherever you are, let your attention fall now on your breath. Taking slower, deeper breaths than you’ve taken all day so far. Slowly breathing in deeply through your nose and slowly letting it out through your mouth….
On the in-breath, hear God, Love, or however you name divinity saying, “I love you,” to you. And on the out breath, say back, with all your childlike heart, “I love you” to God or love. Breathing in the beauty of God’s “I love you,” and breathing out your heartfelt “I love you” back.
Whatever comes up while doing this breath prayer—joy, sorrow, fear, grief, anger, gratitude, shame—feel it. Hold it gently, remembering, as Jim Finley says, “Love and love alone has the authority to name who we are,” and then let the feeling go. Breathing in the beauty of God’s “I love you,” that loves us through, and through, and through. Breathing out your heartfelt “I love you” back.
Why do we love each other? The best love tastes of “without a why.” Meister Eckhart called it “sunder warumbe,” … “without a why.” Eyes open to ever-flowing divine grace. We can pause and do this meditation anywhere, any time, to remind us that only love has the authority to name who we are. May you be blessed. We love you.
https://cac.org/daily-meditations/seeing-through-the-eyes-of-love-weekly-summary/
A short blessing from 365 Blessings to heal myself and the world
https://gentleartofblessing.org/a-blessing-to-express-love/
