In this mini episode of Compass, we share another practice that leads into a deep sense of connection and helps broaden personal perspective beyond our own sense of self.
This practice is conveniently called Imaginative Prayer. There are likely a lot of variations on imaginative prayer. The particular variation we’ll utilize in this episode comes out of the Ignatian contemplative tradition.
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This episode posted on November 9, 2022.
Episode Transcript:
[Ryan Dunn]
This is the Compass Podcast, where we disrupt the everyday with glimpses of the Divine.
My name is Ryan Dunn. I’m a United Methodist minister and communicator. If you’ve been around this podcast for a while, you may have noticed that I have a proclivity towards contemplative spiritual exercises–things like breath prayers and centering prayer and the welcoming prayer. [Music out]
In a world where it’s pretty easy for us to explain away anything super-natural, I find that the contemplative exercises really help me to suspend the skeptical and analytical dimensions of my own nature and to experience some things that, in a sense, defy rationality. For me, these experiences sometimes come as little tugs or impressions that I chalk up to being nudgings of Holy Spirit. More often, though, these experiences lead me into a feeling of connection for the world beyond my own little sliver of it.
This episode of Compass is an abbreviated one, as we’re working on what’s turning into a kind of double episode for next week. But in the meantime, I wanted to share another practice that leads me into that deep sense of connection and helps broaden my personal perspective beyond my own sense of self.
This practice is conveniently called Imaginative Prayer. There are likely a lot of variations on imaginative prayer. The particular variation we’ll utilize in this episode comes out of the Ignatian contemplative tradition.
Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was on his way to military fame when his leg was shattered by a cannonball. While he recovered, he read about Jesus and the saints of the Church. What he read changed him, and he dedicated his life to religious service. He spent a great amount of time in study and trying Christian mystical practices. He founded the Jesuit order of monks and compiled many of his spiritual practices into a tome called The Spiritual Exercises.
One of those spiritual exercises came to be known as Imaginative prayer.
It begins in reading a story out of scripture. Ignatius concentrated on stories that involved Jesus in action. For this exercise, stories that involve multiple characters work the best. Some of Jesus parables might work, too. But straight up teachings and New Testament epistles like 1 John or Colossians don’t work so great… you’ll see why.
I suppose Old Testament stories work as well. You could undertake this practice with Ehud stabbing King Eglon as detailed in Judges 3:12-25… and maybe that would be a load of fun for you. For me personally, as someone who identifies the revelation of God in the actions and words of Jesus, stories with Jesus at the center just work the best.
ANYWAYS… we’ll begin with a story from the Gospels for our purposes here. And I’m going to read one for you as we process this together today.
This is Mark 10:46-52… it’s a shorty but goody…this is from the updated new revised standard version…
46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher,[a] let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Was there a character in that story who stood out to you? If you were a character in that story, where would you be? Imagine being a participant or witness to this event.
We’re going to read this passage again. As you hear it, imagine what you, as a character are seeing and hearing and feeling as these events occur. Are you sweaty? Are your legs tired from walking? Do you smell anything? Are there lots of people around and does that make you anxious?
Let’s hear the story for the Common English Bible this time:
46 Jesus and his followers came into Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho, together with his disciples and a sizable crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, Timaeus’ son, was sitting beside the road. 47 When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was there, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy!” 48 Many scolded him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, show me mercy!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him forward.”
They called the blind man, “Be encouraged! Get up! He’s calling you.”
50 Throwing his coat to the side, he jumped up and came to Jesus.
51 Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man said, “Teacher, I want to see.”
52 Jesus said, “Go, your faith has healed you.” At once he was able to see, and he began to follow Jesus on the way.
Hopefully you were able to paint a fairly full mental picture of what was happening in this story. We’re actually going to read the story a third time. This time, I invite you to use your senses to consider what God might be telling you or showing you through this encounter.
For this third read through, I’ll use the New Living Translation of Mark 10: 46-52
46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My Rabbi,[a]” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.[b]
Following these readings, you’re invited to spend some time in silent contemplation. That does make for good radio so I’ll let you do that on your own. But that contemplation time is an opportunity to respond to God and to thank God for what you’ve experienced through this story.
To put the practice into a short checklist format:
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You’ll read a passage for understanding.
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Then you’ll read to place yourself in the story.
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Then you’ll read to listen for God’s leading.
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Then close in prayer and thanks.
Now before you cut off and try to place yourself in the stabbing of King Eglon, let me just say thanks for participating and thanks to United Methodist Communications for sponsoring this podcast.
We normally release a new episode every two weeks. Things are getting a bit funky here in November of 2022 as we’ll have this mini-episode this week, then a large episode next week.
Again, I’m Ryan Dunn. And we’ll talk to you soon. Peace.
