Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Centering prayer for extroverts

I'm doing this series for the church newsletter called Everyday Prayer, about integrating prayer into, you know, the everyday. Lady Burg's recent post about "busy mind" reminded me of this one - #10 in the series.

Centering prayer turns your mind to God, reminding you that God is at the center of all you are and do. This is a good prayer for people who are busy, anxious or easily distracted. To pray this prayer: Sit comfortably. Breathe in and out after every line. Repeat if you like.
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know that I am.
Be still and know that I.
Be still and know that.
Be still and know.
Be still and.
Be still.
Be.


Parenthetical remarks are BONUS for blog readers only!
(Extra credit for extroverts: Invite someone over to talk to about how you just discovered centering prayer and how you find it surprisingly calming yet energizing. Tell this person how you never thought you'd actually be able to sit still and meditate for as long as five minutes, but now you can. Describe in detail the big problem you are having with your child/spouse/cat because they don't understand you/pay enough attention to you/clean up after themselves. Describe in further detail how sitting quietly with God has given you the insight you need to let go of/intervene in/forget this problem. Tell the person how this reminds you of an unresolved problem you are having with your boss/neighbor/fellow blogger. Describe the problem in detail. Suggest to this person three or four possible solutions to the problem you have just described. Reject them each in turn. Remember that you have just, in fact, learned an excellent method of prayer that might be of guidance to you in this situation. Tell this person you will to try it, as soon as they go. Say goodbye. Say it two or three times. Find yourself alone. Pick up the phone and dial a number. Repeat.)

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