We are kept from the experience of Spirit because our inner world is cluttered with past traumas . . . As we begin to clear away this clutter, the energy of divine light and love begins to flow through our being.
Thomas KeatingRead
We rarely think of the air we breathe, yet it is in us and around us all the time. In similar fashion, the presence of God penetrates us, is all around us, is always embracing us.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the constant presence of divine influence in our lives, much like the air we breathe, which we often take for granted.
Thomas Keating's quote draws a parallel between the ubiquitous nature of air and the omnipresence of God. Just as air surrounds and sustains us, often overlooked in our daily lives, God's presence is an ever-present force that nurtures and supports us, inviting us to recognize the grace that envelops us. This reflection encourages a heightened awareness of the spiritual dimension of existence, urging us to appreciate the profound connection we share with the divine.
Themes
GodAirPresenceSpiritualityAwareness
In practice
Example use cases
In a meditation session, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of spiritual awareness.
More from Thomas Keating
All quotes →The acceptance of all that God has given us and the willingness to let it go - to give it back to him at a moment's notice - that's true human freedom.
Thomas KeatingRead
Only when we can accept God as he is can we give up the desire for spiritual experiences that we can feel.
Thomas KeatingRead
For human beings, the most daunting challenge is to become fully human. For to become fully human is to become fully divine.
Thomas KeatingRead
To become who we are as creatures made in the image and likeness of God, we have to be nothing and everything at once, since this is what God is. ... If we accept who we are, we are manifesting God and radiating Christ. The latter unfolding of the divine life within us does not need to go anywhere _x000D_ or do anything special.
Thomas KeatingRead
If you accept the belief that baptism incorporates us in the mystical body of Christ, into the divine DNA, then you might say that the Holy Spirit is present in each of us, and thus we have the capacity for the fullness of redemption, of transformation.
Thomas KeatingRead
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