Contemplative Prayer

These past few weeks I have been considering (and practicing) an ancient form of prayer aptly titled by most modern day spiritualists as "contemplative prayer."  Throughout the month of July, our church has been focusing on contemplative prayer and as a result it has really dominated my heart and mind.

I think it is pretty obvious to most people that our society maintains a very fast pace existence (it causes the Christian to wonder if Jesus would allow himself to be caught up in our fast pace world or if he would simply refuse to live at such a torrid speed).  The "information" age we live in demands that work gets done quickly and answers need to be presented in seconds.  Last night Grant (my son) wanted me to, "hurry up and go look that up online daddy."  Furthermore, the modern (or post-modern...how ever you want to define it) person lives engulfed by noise -- TV noise, cyber noise, cell phone noise...actual noise. There is so much noise that when he/she experiences a moment of silence it feels awkward and uncomfortable.

In stark contrast, contemplative prayer seeks silence and understands that there is something very sacred to the stillness.

Even the most casual student of the Bible quickly recognizes the frequent command to "be still" and "listen" peppered throughout both testaments.  At the transfiguration God tells noisy Peter to, "listen to his son."  On Mt. Horab Elijah hears God only in the stillness.   Contemplative prayer is an attempt to stay true to the call of God on our lives to stop our noise and our talking in favor of simply "being" with God.

Our family really enjoys spending time together outside.  Perhaps it is the "Celtic Christian in us"....but we have the best time being with each other in nature.  When our family spends time "outside" we all sense a deep connection with the world and with its creator (except when Waco has gone 45 days of over 100 degree heat).  Mary and I really try to take time to listen to God in nature.

The other day Grant and I were playing baseball outside.  I was trying to teach him how to hold the bat, how to stand and when to swing (granted, I don't really know how to do any of those things, but I figured I could wing it with a four year old).  I found myself getting frustrated because Grant wouldn't listen to me.  I slowly realized that he didn't want me to teach him anything, he just wanted to be with his Daddy.  He didn't want to waste time learning baseball skills, he wanted to spend time hitting a ball with his dad.

That night I thought about how our relationship with God is like Grant and I playing baseball.  We spend so much time talking to God, telling him what we want...even instructing him on what we think should happen.  Then, we get mad when we think he isn't listening to us.  All the while God just wants to be with us...he wants to spend time with us.  Too often we insist on aggressively being the sole activist and participant in the conversation.  The great novelist, Alexander Huxley wrote, "Uncontrolled, the hunger and thirst after God may become an obstacle, cutting off the soul from what it desires.  If a person would travel far along the mystic road, he/she must learn to desire God intensely but in stillness, passively, and yet with all his/her heart, mind and strength. "

I am more and more convinced that open minded believers who desire to follow Christ down a journey of love, grace and inclusion must become passively still in the presence of the divine God.  This allows us to center ourselves on our life path in and through Christ Jesus our Lord.  I have noticed that when I  "do all the talking" in my prayers, I am not contemplating the heart of God (love), nor am I listening to God speaking to me through creation, other people and above all the "Word that became flesh and dwelt among us".  Wayne Huxley said, "You will become what you think about all day long and those days eventually become your lifetime." 

Well, Grant has just walked into our room decked out in his medieval knight costume.  He has a sword in one hand, a football in another and a wide grin on his face.  He wants us to go outside and play football with him.  This time, I am not going to say a word about throwing mechanics...Today, I don't care if he grows up to be the next Troy Aikman, I just care about spending time with him.  I bet, if I am still and aware enough, God will show up while we are throwing the ball around.  I don't plan on saying a word...I think I will just let Grant's giggle and Lucy's babbling fill the air...I think I will just let God watch us while we all spend time together.  I will let you know how it goes.