Here at the Farm*, we pray together daily - several times a day, actually. Morning prayer - always. Before meals - always. Night prayer - often. So, this morning, when one of our Sojourners began his explanation of centering prayer by saying that, unlike many Americans, we often take time to sit with God, at first I agreed.
And then I thought, "Hmmm, not so fast..." Yes, we pray as a community, but we're also all very busy. Ministry is a form of active prayer, yet that does not negate the need for contemplative prayer or listening prayer or [insert whatever other form of prayer you can think of]. Speaking for myself only (not necessarily the other members of this community), I have grown accustomed to being Busy and On The Go. It's ingrained in me from 3 years of grad school + child rearing + work.
Throughout our discernment process [should we move? to Bethlehem or Nazareth Farm? or should we suck it up and stay because things will get better?....], I counted "listening to God" as a combination my gut feeling, advice/feedback from family/friends/spiritual director, and natural flow (ie. right timing, issues working themselves out). I still think that these are valid means of hearing God, but it occurred to me this morning that these means are still entrenched in The Busy. We need The Quiet.
Unfortunately, most of this blog post was written in my head while I should have been clearing my mind. I fidgeted a lot, and then mentally chastised myself for fidgeting. I lamented at how I just SUCK at meditation of any sort. I wondered if the others were having as much trouble as I was - and then figured probably not... And, worst of all, I planned. Dude, I mentally planned to set aside 10 minutes a day to practice centering - instead of just... you know, centering? I am an odd duck.
Hey, I'm working on it!
*This is a terrible segue back into the blogosphere, but FYI... my family has moved to Doddridge County, West Virginia to join the Nazareth Farm community. Nazareth Farm provides home repair services to homeowners in the surrounding counties via service retreats for high school and college students from across the country. As a staff community, we live out the Gospel cornerstones of Prayer, Community, Service and Simplicity. Want to come visit?
And then I thought, "Hmmm, not so fast..." Yes, we pray as a community, but we're also all very busy. Ministry is a form of active prayer, yet that does not negate the need for contemplative prayer or listening prayer or [insert whatever other form of prayer you can think of]. Speaking for myself only (not necessarily the other members of this community), I have grown accustomed to being Busy and On The Go. It's ingrained in me from 3 years of grad school + child rearing + work.
Throughout our discernment process [should we move? to Bethlehem or Nazareth Farm? or should we suck it up and stay because things will get better?....], I counted "listening to God" as a combination my gut feeling, advice/feedback from family/friends/spiritual director, and natural flow (ie. right timing, issues working themselves out). I still think that these are valid means of hearing God, but it occurred to me this morning that these means are still entrenched in The Busy. We need The Quiet.
Unfortunately, most of this blog post was written in my head while I should have been clearing my mind. I fidgeted a lot, and then mentally chastised myself for fidgeting. I lamented at how I just SUCK at meditation of any sort. I wondered if the others were having as much trouble as I was - and then figured probably not... And, worst of all, I planned. Dude, I mentally planned to set aside 10 minutes a day to practice centering - instead of just... you know, centering? I am an odd duck.
Hey, I'm working on it!
*This is a terrible segue back into the blogosphere, but FYI... my family has moved to Doddridge County, West Virginia to join the Nazareth Farm community. Nazareth Farm provides home repair services to homeowners in the surrounding counties via service retreats for high school and college students from across the country. As a staff community, we live out the Gospel cornerstones of Prayer, Community, Service and Simplicity. Want to come visit?
4 observations:
Wow! Sounds like you've had some big exciting changes!
yes. i want to come visit.
CM - Yes! Very big! Very exciting! lol
Kelly - if this were facebook, I would "like" your comment.. :) Next Sunday, right???
yay!!
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