The presenter for our fourth week of Lent is Andrea Haller from the third cohort of the Mercy Global Action Emerging Leaders Fellowship. Andrea is from the United States. In her current role as Community Coordinator with Mercy Volunteer Corps (MVC), a ministry sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Andrea supports volunteers compassionately serving the United States and Guyana.  For her lenten reflection, she offers a loving kindness meditation, a practice she uses regularly to open her heart to listen openly to others and the Divine.

Loving-kindness meditation is a practice I like to use regularly to open my heart to hear myself, others, and the Divine.

Sit comfortably, lower your gaze or close your eyes, and turn your attention to your breathing.

Feel the warmth and light around your heart, recognizing the love and kindness you hold within you. Share that loving-kindness with your whole being. Saying to yourself
May I be safe.
May I be healthy.
May I be happy.
May I be peaceful and at ease.
May I be filled with loving-kindness.

Bring your attention to someone you love and care about. Extend to them the same loving-kindness from your heart. Offering them the same words.
May you be safe.
May you be healthy.
May you be happy.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
May you be filled with loving-kindness.

Now, consider an acquaintance or someone you might not know the name of but see often. Send them the loving-kindness from within, saying,
May you be safe.
May you be healthy.
May you be happy.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
May you be filled with loving-kindness.

Remembering this gentle loving-kindness coming from within, bring to mind some you find difficult. This might be painful at first, but remember that loving-kindness, for yourself. Allow your heart to soften and open to extend this to them.
May you be safe.
May you be healthy.
May you be happy.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
May you be filled with loving-kindness.

With an open heart, extend this loving-kindness to all beings.
May you be safe.
May you be healthy.
May you be happy.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
May you be filled with loving-kindness.

Sit in the warmth and light that loving-kindness gifts to you. Growing from your heart and throughout the world. Carry this with you throughout the day and through the remainder of Lent.