I have been reading and studying both the Bible and Sufi poets Hafiz and Rumi. My heart is full and my heart is opened. Each morning I do the Christian Morning Meditation and the Rumi Meditation, then I use the music to say my morning prayers. I am amazed at how this makes me feel each morning and the deeper I study Sufism, the more fascinated I become.

Although I am not planning to convert to Islam, I find the Sufi spiritual message helps to further my studies of Christianity and the Bible. And I find the message of seeking God with your heart and following God with your heart such a comforting and powerful message. In the past, talking with some Christians, I was told not to trust my heart. But I no longer believe that! I know in my heart that my heart follows God—even when my mind (and ego) do not.

As a result of studying Sufi mystics, I have turned to studying Christian mystics as well and I'm finding as much of interest there as in Sufi mysticism. Each one opens something in me as I struggle to learn how to transfer this feeling of love and peace into my every day "reality." I want to feel this way all the time, not just in my peaceful times of morning prayer. I have found occasions when I have been able to recapture that feeling of peace and love, but those occasions are few. I hope, through my study and prayer, to be able to carry this feeling with me all the time.

I have a book somewhere by a man whose name I can't remember (sounds a little crazy, huh?) about living in the spirit every minute of every day during everything we do. This is something I'm working on. Now I just wish I could find the book again. (Sometimes I put things away in safe places and... well, you know how that goes. ) In any case, I plan to continue studying and continue working to bring my spiritual life into my everyday life. And today, I'm taking the dogs to the park for a walk in the woods, that always brings me closer to God.

May you have a safe, beautiful, blessed day.

Reverend Claudia "Red Feather" Barber