This morning when I opened my Facebook, there was a memory of a quote I had shared back in 2009. It read “Lord, empty me of all that bogs me down, that I may be an open vessel for you.” I am not sure if it was something I made up or something I found, but I have decided the part about being bogged down does not really fit with being an open vessel. Nevertheless, the part about emptying and being an open vessel for God has stuck with me.
I thought about putting a vase with nothing in it somewhere to remind me to be open to God. Then, I spotted this little pottery vase on my kitchen windowsill that my mom decided to let go of during their recent move. I liked it enough that I decided to take it home with me.
I am thinking what better place for the little empty vase to be. It will greet me every morning. Though I do have a list of things to do today, I think I can still ask God what he/she might have in mind for me today. The answer does not need to come right away, but instead, be an open question throughout the day. (One thing God might be telling me to put on my list is to clean the kitchen window and sill. They are quite dusty and my little reminders sitting there need some re-arranging.)
Before I took these photos I did wash the little vase. I have previously thought I needed to find something to put in it. Now, I want to keep it empty as a symbolic reminder for myself. Even the act of washing it out was symbolic for me. During this time of Rosh Hashana and the 10 Days of Atonement for the Jewish New Year, it could be another practice, like the practice of Tashikh that I mentioned yesterday.
As I wash the vase, my prayer will be “Lord, empty me of all that keeps me from being an open vessel for you.” Maybe I will wash it daily, even though it might not look like it needs it just so it is more than a visual symbol at a glance.
Peace and Love,
Christine
