Prayer in a Cup Reflection

By: Hannah Schlenker

For the past few weeks Marsha, Eddie and I have been gathering on Tuesdays at 12:30 for a time of prayer and reflection. It is based off of Joyce Rupp's guide called "The Cup of Our Life" that takes an ordinary cup/coffee mug and uses it as a metaphor for our life and spiritual journey.

Every day for six weeks there is a different theme, and once a week you gather to talk about the process. Each day includes a couple pages describing the theme and what it means. Then there is a breathprayer (pray a few words breathing in, a few breathing out), a reflection where you are instructed to think about the theme, a scripture, some journaling prompts, a prayer, and something to do during the day.

Last week one of the themes was "The Cleansed Cup". It really resonated with me for some reason. It talked about being able to recognize what is "stained" within you, and asking for God to help cleanse you. The scriptures were:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10)

and

First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean (Matthew 23:26)


In other words, you have to recognize your "stains" before the Holy Spirit can clean them, and furthermore, if you take care of yourself (spiritually) all the rest will come together. The whole week was about accepting yourself, imperfections and all.

We also talked about an E.E. Cummings poem that I like. It beautifully presents an image of oneness with God, and our need to spend some time alone with God. I'll leave you with that poem.

l(a

le
af
fa

ll

s)
one
l

iness