Posted by Janine on November 21, 1998 at 08:07:08:
In Reply to: Re: Centering Prayer and Contemplation posted by Anne Ward on November 01, 1998 at 13:57:37:
Thank you Diane, Ann & Elizabeth for your contibutions...
: I will close for now simply to say again, that my prayer life is very eclectic...has no name except prayer time! It is also when I can go and have quality time with Him.
: Blessings, and grace,
: Anne
I have found that prayer is terribly personal, that it reflects our personalities and culture (sorry, that word again, Phil....) traditions, and personal experiences (which include by the way, reading about prayer!)...
Thank you, Phil, for including the questions posed by Jim Arraj. I have been practicing CP and other forms of prayer for many years. The quote, "Pray as you can", has halped me through some difficult times when I felt too busy to "practice" a prayer form... then I found that God grants us the GIFT of prayer... and the gift of His(er) presence at times when we don't even intend TO "pray"....
Eclectic. Good word, Ann! Yes, most of the undisciplined people I know (my self included) have eclectic prayer lifes!... sometimes this, sometimes that...most of them do seem to have the common thread of talking to (and being aware and present) to God (and God's actions and gentle prodding) throughout their day. They know that their very breathe depends on God and know that they could not exist without God...So the "formal practices" of CP, or any other "formula" don't really matter in their life... all that matters is God and Love.... that is the way they live their life... and that is what I think God calls us to do and be... God for each other.. Jesus for each other... a reflection of the "family"... some even say you look like your father or mother.... It is grace-filled to say you look like Jesus, you resemble Jesus to me!.. that's what prayer can do....
In reply to the sematics, the methods, the techniques.... there are are many ways to pray as there are people that I've met. I spent some time in a group Spiritual Direction experience... not one of us prayed like the other, or were affected by the prayer as the other...we each (as Jim Arraj seems to be inferring, via personality issues) had our own distinct way of relating with God. That was a wonderful experience to see how each related, how each was touched by God.
This experience of prayer is a gift and grace of God... calling us into our own distinct relationship that is ours alone.
God's blessings on all who read this...may God give you the gift of prayer at this moment.
Divine Blessings to you,
Janine
P.S. It seems that you figured out how to respond in spite of this "high-technolgy"!!! Congraduations! ;-) ... and well done to Phil...like the way these "threads" are set up...nice form... easy to reply and respond...incredibly intelligent...could go on & on.... good work... the check's in the mail! ;-)