Opening to the Spirit – Interact
Learn – Interact – People – Resources
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6
Praying for each other, in whatever way feels right to you, is the most important part of this community.
You may journal in any way you wish: in a notebook, using art, or by adding a thought, comment, or journal entry with the class. By sharing a journal entry publicly below, you offer encouragement and a chance to share your journey with others who are in this course as well. Feel free to prayerfully respond to an entry someone else has made as well.
Comment below (fill in your name and email the first time you post) and ‘Post Comment’. Press ‘Reply’ then ‘Post Comment’ to respond to another person’s comment (even if you simply type ‘thank you’). ‘Subscribe’ to receive email notifications when others post.
Enjoy!
What has drawn you to this School of Contemplative Prayer experience? I’m seeking to enrich my contemplative prayer journey, aiming to cultivate a heart more receptive to God and the world around me in my everyday life.
What are you most hoping for in our time together? I aspire to learn, unlearn, and rediscover alongside everyone during our shared experience.
Thank you for sharing
What has drawn you to this School of Contemplative Prayer experience?
The need to reconnect to God and my spirituality through contemplative practices.
What are you most hoping for in our time together?
Re-engagement with spiritual practices that were once more regular for me. Increased awareness of the movement of God’s Spirit throughout my life, my community, and the world.
Thank you for sharing
I miss the closeness I used to have with God and feel adrift since I no longer believe much of my Catholic faith. My hope is that this course will help me be faithful to a dedicated prayer time each day.
Thank you for sharing
Malcolm Boyd, “I believe that God prays in us and through us…” immediately settled into my heart with an AHA moment.
For as long as I remember, I have been uncomfortable with petitionary prayer – especially those that ask God to spare you or a loved one from a common trial, like an illness or divorce. And uncomfortable with the idea that God always answers our prayers. And the later warning that sometimes the answer is no. And all of the pious thoughts that I was taught go with petitionary prayer – God sends the most trials to those He loves the most…
So it burst on me this morning, as I listened to Carole, that it is MY prayers that are answers to God’s continual prayers in and for me. That my truest self is a prayer of God. That even my regrets, even the parts of myself that I don’t like, are part of Her prayer.
I am a living breathing prayer of God.
I can’t quite put together coherent words yet to explain the comfort that gives me.
Thank you for your sharing and insights
I signed up for this experience to, hopefully, be more intentional with taking time each day for spending time in quiet. It’s definitely a process but I keep that as my focus and participating has made me more aware of the spirit in my life.
I am hoping in this time together to love more deeply; God, myself and others.
Thank you for sharing
Week 2
I primarily pray using Centering Prayer. Today, “Contemplative prayer is the most natural, honest, and immediate presence with God” resonated deeply with me. I ponder how to enter into silence and let go of my thoughts. Instead of focusing on the method, when I offer my heart to God, words like “help” arise within me. It becomes a moment where I approach God just as I am, in my present state.
Through this way of praying, I’ve experienced a more direct connection with God’s heart. It has also been a time for me to approach God more openly with my heart. I was able to experience the tranquility and peace that comes when I stay open to God with all my issues, situations, and my true self. I wanted to live my day in this contemplative state and with this attitude.
I have a deep need for spiritual community ,a group that consciously grows and is open to new ways of interacting and experiencing deep contact with Spirit and sharing about it without judgment or clinging to long held opinions
Week 3
Where do you sense God inviting you to grow and stretch in relation to your spiritual practice(s)?
I have been sensing an invitation from God to grow and stretch in my spiritual practice with my body. I’ve realized that I have a weakness when it comes to paying attention to my body, but through prayer that focuses on body awareness, I have become aware of the possibility of entering a deeper presence of God. Through Body Awareness Prayer, I’ve found that my body and mind can come more deeply into the present moment, allowing me to experience a deeper sense of God’s presence.
Are there any new practices to which you feel drawn or old ones you may want to let go of?
As for new practices, I feel drawn to continue exploring and deepening my body awareness in prayer. It’s a practice that allows me to surrender more of myself and connect with God on a deeper level.
I am still working on week 1 but your sharing is so interesting and I look forward to praying with more body awareness
Week 4
What difference, if any, did the slow breathing seem to make for your being present with God?
The slow breathing has made a noticeable difference in my ability to be present with God. When I deepen my awareness not only of my body but also of my breathing, I find that my mind becomes calmer, allowing me to experience a deeper sense of God’s loving presence. I feel more relaxed, and my body and mind naturally become more tranquil, leading me to experience a deeper level of silence.
What words come to mind to describe the difference?
Words that come to mind to describe this difference include “deeper silence” and “a deeper sense of God’s loving presence.”