tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post1782778922599769814..comments2023-11-03T05:09:33.978-04:00Comments on Fragments of Grace: A Conversation III: Let Go Your GraspUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-41648260108374640642010-07-20T16:09:24.589-04:002010-07-20T16:09:24.589-04:00Thanks Michelle! This was thought provoking.
I l...Thanks Michelle! This was thought provoking.<br /><br />I learned about the practice of centering prayer a few years ago and occasionally spend time - not often enough - doing this form of prayer. The word aspect was problematic for me at the beginning because words carry much baggage especially in the English language where they generally have many meanings. The words I tried at the beginning just distracted me more as I followed the various paths where they would lead. For a while, I tried agape - Greek for love - but three syllables was unwieldy. For now, I use the word amen. It means many things to me - I agree, I will, I am, I believe, so be it; yes, my lack of formal knowledge of the meaning is probably quite evident in this statement. It works, for now.Kathryn Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16757414380685368592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3907440527168314545.post-71921689603085287222010-07-15T11:05:04.149-04:002010-07-15T11:05:04.149-04:00Oh my. This speaks directly into my prayer life an...Oh my. This speaks directly into my prayer life and challenges. I have practiced for many years a form of silent prayer/meditation. I have rarely been successful using a word or phrase. This may be related to how I learned to meditate in the early 1970's and the "sound" I was given to use as a mantra instead of a word. This sound is two syllabols and is meant to be connected to the breath, one syllabol with a breath in, one syllabol with a breath out. Because its not a word it doesn't catch me up in wordiness, but keeps me engaged with breath, relaxing body and mind. Or letting go.<br /><br />The truth is I have been doing this for so long that I almost never use the sound anymore, unless I am particularly distracted getting into the quietness of prayer and can't settle in. More lately, though, in a curious fashion I find that as I am in the quiet, words from prayers or scripture float up and resonate around for awhile. I presume that these are significant since they come up from some place deep inside. Although I'm not sure I could tell you what they were when I am finished with the prayer....<br /><br />Anyway, not to go on and on...I am appreciating this "conversation"...Terrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15667178624061122421noreply@blogger.com