Sunday, May 17, 2009

Prayer.

"To pray, I think, does not mean to think about God in contrast to thinking about other things, or to spend time with God instead of spending time with other people. Rather, it means to think and live in the presence of God. As soon as we begin to divide our thoughts about God and thoughts about people and events, we remove God from our daily life and put him into a pious little niche where we can think pious thoughts and experience pious feelings. ... Although it is important and even indispensable for the spiritual life to set apart time for God and God alone, prayer can only become unceasing prayer when all our thoughts -- beautiful or ugly, high or low, proud or shameful, sorrowful or joyful -- can be thought in the presence of God. ... Thus, converting our unceasing thinking into unceasing prayer moves us from a self-centred monologue to a God-centred dialogue. "

From Henri Nouwen's "Clowning in Rome".

If you haven't read Nouwen, I would encourage you to do so. His writing is simple, yet speaks profound truth in a meet-you-where-you-are kind of way and its like you can feel his love and compassion for you, as the reader. I can sit down with a book for an hour (and maybe finish it, they are quick) and come away feeling comforted, refreshed and with a bit more wisdom to take with me. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon.

1 comment:

Bagwell's said...

I miss you so much. I love your words!