the sensation of life
I have been asked to record an Examen. Here are two! They are the same shape, with one shorter for when you are tired or don’t have much time. You may wish to try the longer one first. Examen (Short) Examen (short)Download Examen (longer) Examen (longer)Download Some lucky people seem to know exactly what they … Continue reading Audio Prayer: Review of the day
…there is still somewhere deep within you a beast shouting that the earth is exactly what it wanted… Mary Oliver, Morning Poem ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’Luke 19.40 For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terror…Rainer Maria Rilke, First Duino Elegy (tr. Stephen Mitchell) Prayer often begins … Continue reading … and joy
There ain't no good thing ever dies I'm gonna take it with me when I go Tom Waits: Take It With Me I have often talked about 'repetition', as Ignatius of Loyola calls it, in these writings, e.g. "Where to start?", "The Kingdom of Heaven", and "Repetition". He invites us to revisit significant moments, "noting … Continue reading Audio Prayer: Revisiting a God moment
Christ is risen. Alleluia. This is my third offering of recorded prayer. It is a version from the post, “The only 3 prayers you need,” in which I suggested that presence, gratitude, and kindness comprise the three important prayers. This audio file is longer than the others. Here it is one complete recording. Presence - … Continue reading Audio Prayer: Presence, Gratitude, and Kindness
Here is my second offering of a recorded prayer. As I said in my last post, when I wake in the night, I wish there were some guided prayers I could listen to, to settle me, to connect me with God, to remind me that all is well and I am safe. This is a … Continue reading Audio Prayer for sleep
I have decided to start making some audio recordings of prayers, meditations, and reflective exercises. Sometimes, when I wake in the night, I wish there were some guided prayers I could listen to, to settle me, to connect me with God, to remind me that, beneath it all, all is well and I am safe. … Continue reading Audio Prayer: Simple opening to God’s presence
There comes a time when God appears to change. This may happen many times in a life. It is not so much that God feels distant or absent, though this may also be the case. It is more that you look for God in the usual place, or you think of God in the usual … Continue reading When prayer stops working
A few years ago I was at a day conference with Silence in the City. It was a hot summer’s day. I was due to meet up with a couple of people later. Towards the end of the talk, both people sent texts begging off because of the heat. I was irritated. I do not … Continue reading Distraction
Too often prayer is presented as petition.But the word ‘prayer’ is simply religious jargon for relationship with what we call God.In truth there are only three prayers. Prayer is properly not petition, but simply attention to God which is a form of love.Iris Murdoch, On ‘God’ and ‘Good’ in Existentialists And Mystics 1. “Here I … Continue reading The only 3 prayers you need
Every day I go to my chair and I sit in the early morning light or dark. I set down my glass of water. I look into Your face. I’m pretty consistent about this. I get anxious if it is put off or I miss the appointment. Every day I struggle.I come with feelings of … Continue reading Are we there yet?