God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:25
It’s hard to feel spiritual when…there’s a bug in your bra!
This story was written in response to a meditation circle that took place 12 years ago at Ghost Ranch outside Abiquiu, New Mexico. I offer it to you as an invitation to make space in your spiritual practices for the unexpected.
We sat around the mesquite campfire gently swathed in the sacred smoke of ancient trees. The dulcet tones of the former leader of the Iona community lulled us into a meditative state. I closed my eyes, and began to move into a deeper spiritual realm. Calm, quiet, noise and earthly cares far away…
At the exact moment when I was sure I was about to see the face of God, a bug flew down my shirt and into my bra!
Oh my! How do you gracefully, quietly, and in a deeply spiritual way squash a bug in your bra?
I did the only thing I could…I prayed. “Holy God remove this beloved child from my bra as soon as possible!” Incredibly my prayers were answered. The bug didn’t hang around very long or wiggle too much. I heard a quiet buzzing, felt tiny tickles, and just as I was beginning to squirm and it flew out! Hallelujah!!! I sighed from the tip of my toes to the top of my head, smiled into the stars and left my trance far behind.
The lady sitting next to me squeezed my hand and whispered “Let it out dear… God understands and accepts your feelings. Meditating is always a unique experience of the sacred.”
I almost felt bad when I squeezed back and said “I never doubted that for a moment.”
It didn’t seem like the right time to share me new spiritual insight with her. Besides, I’m not sure that she really wanted know that it’s hard to feel spiritual when there’s a bug in your bra!
Friend of all, lover of laughter, help us make space for the unexpected every day of our lives. Amen