The discipline of centering prayer is self-emptying, self-sacrificing, letting go of the limited sense of self that is separate from God, from others, and from all life. [1]
– David Frenette
Each time I sit in silence, I self-empty. I forget who I think I am. I am no longer a father, a husband, a co-worker, an employee with clients, a son, a friend of others, a person who has tasks that need to get done today.
this post may contain affiliate links
I let go of who I think I am today or need to be. I let go of what I need to do today. I let go of what I think I need to do today. I let go of my anxieties, concerns and worries just for this short time while I silently sit. None of this is important.
These anxieties, concerns, identities, tasks, and worries are barriers. They often make me feel that I am separate from God, from others, from life. They overwhelm me. I feel alone. I freeze.
Once I have let them go, I can just be. I can just be with God. When my mind wanders during centering prayer, I use my sacred icon to ever so gently return to the state when I can just be with God.
God wants to sit with me. God is delighted that I sit. God loves me. I love God. We are two friends who quietly sit with each other. No words need to be said. It is sometimes nice to just be. It is nice to just sit with life and with my God.
Eventually, I no longer need to use my sacred icon. I find the space between my thoughts increases. Of course, I know this only after my sit is over and the closing bell has rung. What happens during this time?
When my sit is over, I arise a new person. I am refreshed. I am calm. I am full of energy that will be used for the day’s tasks. I am excited and full of life. I am reconnected with God. God and I are partners during my silent sit. God and I continue to be partners during the non-silent parts of my day.
I no longer feel alone. I am connected to God, my daily partner. I feel connected to others. I need this connection with others. They need me and I need them. I feel connected to life and all that life offers. I see things that before I did not notice.
Centering prayer is my daily portal to the Divine. I leave my baggage at its door. I walk through its door so I can reconnect with God, with others and with life.
How do you feel after each silent sit? Please feel free to share your experience.
Learn more on my Centering Prayer and Resource pages.
Go Further:
Practicing the Presence of God by Pamela Begeman, Mary Ann Brussat, Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler, David Frenette: We live in a world of complexity, fragmentation, noise, and haste. We sometimes find ourselves overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of tasks, appointments, and commitments facing us. How can we experience God in the midst of the busyness, responsibilities, and activities of our daily lives? By practice. By living more in the present moment. By practicing the presence of God in the present moment.
David Frenette’s book The Path of Centering Prayer re-energized the Centering Prayer tradition with its fresh insights and teachings. This companion audio program—created to be equally rewarding as a stand-alone guide—gives listeners an immersive resource to learn contemplative prayer, step by step and in the moment. With clarity and compassionate presence, Frenette explains the essential principles of this contemplative practice for both new and seasoned practitioners, and then guides us experientially through core prayers and meditations.
If you enjoyed reading this post, please recommend and share it to help others find it.
[1] David Frenette, The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God, ( Sounds True ): 2012
Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks – This is a great way to listen to books with your cell phone while you drive, walk or relax at home. I frequently listen in my car during my commute to and from work. I’m a proud affiliate.
The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault: Jesus first and foremost is a Wisdom teacher, grounded in the universal traditions of spiritual transformation, and the first teacher of non-dual consciousness the West had ever seen. Almost two thousand years ahead of his time, he stands in the lineage of the great Jewish prophets, the master “cardiologist” entrusted with implementing the promise made to the prophet Ezekiel: “I will take away your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
Centering Prayer by Cynthia Bourgeault: Centering Prayer is a simple, no-frills form of meditation in the Christian tradition. Since it was first developed by Christian contemplative monks in the 1970s, it has allowed tens of thousands of practitioners worldwide to “return home,” developing an authentically Christian meditation practice which not only delivers the healing and quieting of the mind typical of all meditation paths, but also reconnects directly to Christianity’s hidden treasury of mystical and transformational wisdom.
The Gospel of Thomas by Cynthia Bourgeault: This e-course, “The Gospel of Thomas with Cynthia Bourgeault,” is a complete “Thomas starter kit”: everything you need to know to get you up and running with this remarkable text, plus a generous sampling of its most important sayings, arranged thematically so that they speak to issues that contemporary spiritual seekers are actually dealing with.
Sounds True has titles by teachers and authors such as Thomas Keating, Cynthia Bourgeault, James Finley, Richard Rohr, David Frenette, Parker Palmer , Eckhart Tolle , Michael Singer , Jon Kabat-Zinn , Marianne Williamson to name a few.
Contemplative Light offers courses on contemplative practices (Christian Meditation, Centering Prayer, The Examen, Lectio Divina, The Jesus Prayer), the Christian mystics (ancient and current) and spiritual writing. Peruse their wonderful offerings.
Prayer-Bracelet: Authentic Orthodox prayer ropes and bracelets are handmade by monks in the Orthodox monastaries reciting a prayer for every knot they tie. Peruse their prayer ropes and bracelets that are all handmade, provided by several orthodox churches around the globe.
How might your life change if you were steeped more deeply in the wisdom of the Christian Mystics? Drawing on the best available writing on the topic of Christian Mysticism both ancient and modern, Contemplative Light is offering a special course on the Christian Mystics Sacred Lives: An Introduction To The Christian Mystics.
Contemplative Practices: 5 Ways of Consenting to the Divine – Learn methods practiced by Christian mystics for centuries to consent to the action and presence of God within, including Centering Prayer, The Examen, Lectio Divina, Christian Meditation, and the Jesus Prayer.
Writing as a Spiritual Practice: This course helps you to access the rich spiritual stories that lie deeply within you. Words are powerful. The words that you write can be used to:
- help you understand yourself better – and therefore divine God’s purpose in your life
- facilitate healing of spiritual wounds
- minister to others more effectively
- share your testimonies of how God has worked in your life
How to Write a Devotional: Plus How to Get Them Published – If you read devotionals, you already know how they can be a true blessing. A devotional can uplift you when you’re feeling discouraged, sad or lonely. It can allow you to feel a keen sense of fellowship with another Christian, even if the two of you never actually meet. And, if you are feeling called to write devotionals, know that you have a unique opportunity to bless others and make a genuine difference in their lives. This course takes you step by step through the process, and then guides you towards publishing, if that is your goal.
Drawing from the wisdom of monastic life, modern psychology and best practices in personal productivity, the Monk Manual provides a daily system that will help you find clarity, purpose, wisdom, and peace in the moments that make up your life.
