A Taste of God

When I was with everyone in November, we used our senses to open ourselves to an encounter with the Divine.  As that doesn’t translate well into a sermon for the newsletter, here is a little activity you can do on your own or with a friend or loved one.

Start by gathering a candle, some cinnamon or a similarly rich spice for sniffing, a fruit or something that has a sweet taste, and something with lots of texture, like a pinecone or holly leaf, and something beautiful to look at.  Put on some music to play gently in the background.

Lighting the candle, and taking a few deep breaths, perhaps you would like to say this prayer, or one of your own offering:

Holy one, Hashem, Love Divine, Spirit of Peace.  We pause today seeking to be part of something bigger than us, something that unites us and reminds us of our belovedness.

As we take a few moments out of the rest of our lives, teach us how to let go of the regrets of the past and the anxieties of the future to just exist here in this moment.  Open our minds that we might learn something new, open our hearts that we might lean in Love’s direction, open our very lives to new ways of living and being on this planet.  Show us the way of Love.

Amen.

Let your mind explore these words, the psalms, the oldest of the Judeo Christian Scriptures.  Throughout the psalms, the writers sing sensory immersive songs that allow the hearer or reader to enter this world of their understanding of a relationship with the Great Creator, God.  Here are a few excerpts from Psalm 119:

Verse 18: Open my eyes so I can see

    what I can of your miracle-wonders.

Verse 20: My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!—

    insatiable for your nourishing Love.

Verse 28: My soul melts away for sorrow;

    Build me up again in your ways.

37-38: Give me an appetite for your words of wisdom,

    and not for piling up loot.

Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets,

    invigorate me on the pilgrim way.

69-70: The arrogant smear me with lies,

    but with my whole heart I listen for your Love

They’re bland as a bucket of lard,

while I dance to the tune of your revealing self.

73:With your very own hands you formed me;

    now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you.

103: How sweet is your presence to my taste,

    sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Can you take a few minutes to just let those words digest you, listening to the music, maybe allowing your eyes to close or your gaze to gently soften.  Letting go of any thoughts of negativity or judgement, allow your mind to be led by the Spirit.

When you are ready, bring your attention to the “something beautiful” you gathered at the start of this session.  With the music still playing in the background, explore the art or item (or person!) with curious eyes, taking time to linger in different places.  Take several minutes to explore, seeing what comes and what thoughts, ideas or memories are evoked.

As we transition to our next sense, I invite you to take one of the spices that is in front of you and take a deep inhale of its scent.  Allow your memory to take you to a time or place, to a food, or person.  See where the smell takes you.

As you are ready, pick up the textured object you selected and close your eyes, feel it.  Get to know it.  Explore it with your fingers.  You can use touch with more than your fingers – how does the object feel in your hand?  On the back of your hand?  Your arm?  Your face?  As you explore it, use your sense of touch to listen and let your mind be taken somewhere with it. 

When you are finished, simply place the object down and reflect on the experience.

When you are ready, I invite you to take a piece of the food you set aside.  Pause before you place it in your mouth.  Smell it.  Think about the last time you might have had a sample of one of these.  Pause and welcome it into your mouth and pay close attention to the sensations you experience as you move it around with your tongue, chew with your teeth.  Move slowly and deliberately.  Is your instinct to swallow right away?  What if you keep chewing longer than normal?  What do you notice about this experience?

Once you are satisfied, take some time to reflect on being intentional in using your senses and how you might use them as a part of your connection with God.  When you are ready, you might offer some words of thanksgiving/gratitude to conclude this time of prayer and meditation using all of your senses.