Wildly Wandering Minds

I don’t know about you, but sometimes during prayer, my mind will wander wildly.

Writing about prayer and the distractions that inevitably arise, Thomas Merton notes, “But in all these things, it is the will to pray that is the essence of prayer, and the desire to find God, to see him and love him is the one thing that matters… No matter how distracted you may be, pray by peaceful, even perhaps inarticulate efforts to center your heart upon God, who is present to you in spite of all that may be going through your mind. His presence does not depend on your thoughts of him. He is unfailingly there… The memory of his unfailing presence is the surest anchor for our minds and hearts…” (New Seeds of Contemplation, p.224)

I am reminded that the Greek New Testament word for Spirit is “Pneuma,” which can also mean wind. And the Hebrew word is “Ruah,” which can mean wind or breath. The breath of God, the wind of God, the Spirit of God are in us and around us at every moment.

A friend once shared with me that he begins to center himself in prayer, by simply taking a couple of deep breaths: Breathing in God’s Spirit, breathing out any anxiety or worry. Breath in God’s Spirit. breath out.

Jesus, when speaking to his disciples about prayer said, “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.” (Matthew 6:2-4, Msg Version)

Let us pray: We sit even now for just a moment in your presence, O God. We come with our distractions, our concerns, our worries and we hand them to you now… Calm our hearts and our minds as we rest in you; through Christ and in Christ we pray. Amen.