lectio divina

i've known about the practice of lectio divina for several years, since a class in seminary. just recently i have come to really appreciate it, as i rest from over a decade of being on staff in church ministry. lectio divina is the "reading, praying with scripture in order to more deeply ponder and listen...which can lead to rejoicing and even singing from scripture within the soul". the point is to commune more deeply with God in an experiential knowlege of His Word. it can be done alone or with others. i appreciate the group that i sit with. a leader will read a selection of verses twice through slowly and we will sit in silence for over forty-five minutes together, reading over our paper copy and sharing only as we feel inclined to the benefit of the group. (of the fifteen or so gathered, maybe only two or three individuals will speak). no one is overly eager to hear themselves talk, and once they do it is extremely rich and thought-provoking. the time ends with prayer requests, applying the scripture to community/world concerns and we simply go home; on with our days carrying the truths with us that we shared together.