Desire for Us

 

Today, we dive and dwell with three quotes by Henri Nouwen.  As is often the case, the point of the quotes is not for you to memorize to regurgitate back on some quiz.  The point of a quote is to open your thinking, to notice your response, and to see how the words land in your body.  Quotes are not conclusive evidence beyond a shadow of a doubt, but they invite us into a conversation.  Read each quote below twice.  First, to get a sense of what Nouwen is trying to express.  And then the second time, pay close attention to the questions, insights, and confusion that may arise in your mind or soul.  Or maybe the quote is meh to you, not good or bad, but like bread without salt.  Not every word ever spilled on a page about prayer is for everyone.  Perhaps you are still meditating on a previous post this week.  Perhaps you are still arguing with something I said earlier.  Perhaps the conversation of prayer is still unresolved in you.  Notice where you are at, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  The prayer “Here I am” is powerful because it names the geography of our bodies, hearts, and souls.  Where are you?  What does here look like, sound like, taste, and feel like right now?  Once you have paid attention to where you are and that God is there with you in this moment, ponder these quotes from Nouwen:

 

I am deeply convinced that the necessity of prayer, and to pray unceasingly, is not as much based on our desire for God as on God’s desire for us. It is God’s passionate pursuit of us that calls us to prayer.

 

Pause ~ Re-read ~ Respond ~ Breathe

 

The only way to pray is to pray, and the way to pray well is to pray much.

 

Pause ~ Re-read ~ Respond ~ Breathe

 

Prayer without action grows into powerless pietism, and action without prayer degenerates into questionable manipulation.

 

Pause ~ Re-read ~ Respond ~ Breathe

 

What are you noticing?  Did something shift or stir in you, either good or not great?  Has your soul, heart, or mind moved since we first checked a few moments ago?  Is there one word or one image you would like to carry with you today from this morning mediation and meeting with God?  I pray that whatever word, thought, image, feeling, taste, smell, or voice of your shy soul is for you, this will be a conduit to the Creator to stay awake and aware that God goes before, beside, behind, and beneath you every moment ~ that you are staying alert is the wayless way of prayer.  Amen.