Centering Prayer

Centering prayer again

Guidelines

Thomas Keating

“1. Choose a sacred word to symbolize your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.

2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently, and introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God’s presence and action within.

3. Return ever-gently to the sacred word when engaged with your thoughts, feelings, images, and reflections.

4. At the end of the prayer period (20 minutes), remain silent with eyes closed for a few minutes.”—Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., www.contemplativeoutreach.org.

 Reviewing the guidelines for Centering Prayer is worthwhile, even if we have been practicing this spiritual discipline for some time. Catholic monks Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, Basil Pennington, and Quaker Richard Foster have described this contemporary form of the ancient contemplative prayer practice, also known as listening prayer. This ancient prayer practice is rooted in the traditions of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, as well as The Cloud of Unknowing, Teresa of Avila, and St. John of the Cross.

A friend from New York, Steve Standiford, associated with Contemplative Outreach, has practiced centering prayer for over twenty years. He reminded us at a retreat at our church of an old story about how to deepen our relationship with God and experience God’s presence and love in our lives through centering prayer. “A first-time tourist to New York City gets into the cab and asks the driver, ‘How do you get to Carnegie Hall?’ The driver responds, ‘Practice, practice, practice!’”  

As with most of our attempts to learn about a spiritual tool, we gain knowledge of the practice by repeatedly practicing it.   

Joanna          https://www.joannaseibert.com/

Learning How to Change

Learning from the Super Bowl Comeback 2023

“Ask yourself what is absurd in your life right now. Then, recall that the roots of the word refer to being “deaf.” If you have stopped listening, try to begin again, first with what you love, then with what is difficult for you. Something may be trying to reach you—a voice, a destiny.”—Philip Cousineau, The Art of Pilgrimage, page 39.

Super Bowl Comeback 2023

Beginning the second half, the Kansas City Chiefs football team was ten points behind their opponent, Philadelphia. Using a wise tactic, they returned to the second half to score points whenever they had the ball.

On second down, they would try a play to see how Philadelphia would react. On third down, they repeated the play but adjusted to where they could get through the Philadelphia defense. They learned from what did not work and adjusted to a new way, sometimes only slightly different. If only we could do that in life.

I share this image sent to me by a significant Kansas City fan in Missouri, Donna, whom I met through the Daughters of the King program, “Daughters Going Deeper.”

We tend to keep doing things the same way every time. Those in 12-step recovery call this insanity.

Sports have a spiritual side that we can learn from.

Joanna https://www.joannaseibert.com/

What I Learned at VBS

What I Learned at VBS

“Help me slow down, Jesus.

Hheellpp mmee ssllooww ddoowwnn JJEEUUSS.

Hhheeelllppp mmmeee ssslllooowww dddoowwwnnn, JJJEEEUUUSSS.

Hhhheeeellllpppp, mmmmeeee, sssslllloooowwww ddddoooowwwwnnnn, JJJJEEEEUUUUSSSS.” —“Bible Story Teller” in Rolling River Rampage: Experience the Ride of a Lifetime with God! (Cokesbury VBS, 2018).

My friend, Mary Manning, and I were the storytellers at St. Mark’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) for many summers. I have been the storyteller at VBS at the other churches I served, but I always did it alone. It was so amazing to have a partner. Mary is a retired schoolteacher. I am a former teacher of medical school students, residents, and fellows, but Mary had a lot to teach me. I had decided how to tell the story for each group. At our first meeting, Mary suggested we do it another way. She was so right. I keep thinking what a disaster it would have been if she had not been there.

Now I understand why Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs. At my late stage, I am learning that almost any ministry is better with a partner, or even more, if possible. We learn so much from each other’s experience and expertise. Sometimes, our grandchildren helped us, which was even better.

This prayer for today about slowing down was our favorite from the story of Mary and Martha. I try to say it several times during the day.

I learned one more thing at VBS. Mary and I were with each group of children for only twenty minutes. We told stories about Jesus calling the disciples, Mary and Martha, Zacchaeus, the Last Supper, and Jesus sending his disciples out with the assurance he would be with them always. Before telling the new story each day, we would review the previous day's story. I was amazed that the children in each group, even the four-year-olds, remembered so much of yesterday’s story. Of course, each story was reinforced through crafts, music, and games.

VBS taught me that what we teach and say can be like seeds planted to germinate in children’s hearts for some later date. I am reminded of my VBS teachers, who taught me about God's love through stories. I am still learning from them through Mary.

Joanna. https://www.joannaseibert.com/