Wednesday, June 1, 2016

DEPTHS IN PRAYER




‘FOR YOU ALONE, MY SOUL WAITS IN SILENCE!’

Robert Trabold


Slowly distinctly, I whisper:
“For you alone, my soul waits in silence!”

My voice arises from the depths
words vibrate in my whole body
coming from deepest parts of my center
whose depth is infinite
endless tunnels, stairs, deep darkness
so still noise never penetrates there.

I enter, descend slowly but am hopelessly lost in mystery
mystery of an encounter in my depths.
I meet my Beloved utter stillness.
My Beloved speaks in silence
clue to the divine’s presence.

I repeat: “For you alone, my soul waits in silence!”
feel resonance of the words
words of love,  longing, words of waiting.
I sit in utter silence, I feel nothingness
but emptiness is full
out of darkness out of mystery comes light.
What meeting could be more beautiful!

                                                  
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DEPTHS IN PRAYER


ROBERT TRABOLD


            Reflecting on our Christian life, it is evident that there are many forms of prayer and each has a place in our life.  We have verbal and vocal prayer where for example we say the ‘Our Father.’ There is singing done by individuals or groups like a choir which we do in liturgical events. We have discursive prayer where we reflect on a biblical passage and some truth of our Christian faith in order to understand it more deeply and apply it to our life. We participate in liturgical prayer where we assist at different events in our local church in order to praise God and have contact with the divine. We meditate and participate in contemplative prayer where we pray in silence and which opens for us another dimension to our Christian life. From our Christian faith, we know that we are created in God’s image and we are to reflect this in the way we live.

            It is a challenge however for us to grow in this realization that we are temples of God’s presence and the divine is present at our center and still point. The Holy Spirit lives in our inner most being. To grow in this awareness of the sacred presence within us, it is important for us to grow in contemplative prayer. In this prayer or meditation, we go beyond words, images and discourse. We then meet a presence deep within us who helps us understand our true value in life as sons and daughters of our Father in heaven and gives us the motivation and strength to transform ourselves into this new dignity. This realization of the divine presence within us will also change and transform the way we see ourselves, other people and all creation. We will begin in a deep way to see things as Jesus did and wanted to teach us. We become more deeply and truly images of the divine and manifest this to others.

            To grow in this vocation which Jesus wants us to do in our life and the world, it is important for us to realize that all forms of prayer are valuable but also to understand the very crucial role that contemplative prayer and meditation add to our Christian life. Each way of prayer fills out the picture of where we are in the world and to what God calls us. However, we have to go beyond them and enter into silence where we forget ourselves and touch the silent presence of Jesus at our center and still point. This silent encounter of the Lord is an essential part to our growth. We are not thinking about ourselves but just being with the divine presence within us and so drawn closer to Him. If we are faithful in our contemplative prayer and this journey into silence, the Lord will slowly remake us into His image. We will become the sons and daughters of God which Jesus wants us to be. John Main suggests that we try to meditate twice a day for 20 minutes each and quietly recite our mantra. This requires fidelity to commit ourselves to grow in contemplative prayer and an effort to regulate our daily schedule to allow this.

            It is important for us to realize the different kinds of prayer and their function in our life. Each makes a contribution to our life and Christian growth.  In contemplative prayer, we will grow to realize that there is no one closer to us on earth, even beyond our closest friends, as the Lord is. This will be the source of joy and direction of our life. We touch the divine hand which leads us in a good path and gives us confidence not to give up despite all the disappointments and troubles of living a human life in this troubled world.

                                   
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I would be appreciative if you would take a moment to answer the following question.  I am interested in knowing the reaction of readers to this poem and article.

Question:  In your experience through the years, have you experienced the different kinds of prayers and the various roles they play in your growth in the Christian life? Have you experienced the particular benefit and richness of meditation and contemplation in silence?

            Also, if you leave your name and e-mail address, I could send you special announcements and information that might be helpful to you.


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