When I share things with the church family on Sunday I am always a little concerned that I give the impression that things like developing my prayer life are easy for me or something I have got pretty well figured out! Well nothing could be further from the truth, I struggle as much if not more than you do! Few things have brought that home to me more than the past couple of days. I have been able to come down for a couple of days of quiet in the Redwoods near Pescadero. Oh, I hear you say if I could do stuff like that then I could get these things sorted out. Maybe you could but they have only served to point up for me how hard I find it. I have just been for a walk and I can’t tell you how many times I caught myself thinking about God while overlooking the fact that He was walking with me. Even with the magnificence of His creation towering around me I find myself forgetting that His “with you” and “always” meant what they said!

Focus is always a part of the problem for me. Just before I left for retreat I was browsing through “Spiritual Disciplines Handbook”. I was introduced by the author Adele Ahlberg Calhoun to the concept of “ breathing prayer” A little odd and mystical I thought to myself but maybe I will give it a try. The idea is that you take a scripture like “ Jesus Son of David – Have mercy on me.” You sit quietly and think about your breathing then as you breath in you say “Jesus Son of David” and then “Have Mercy on me” as you breath out. You can’t do it out loud (thank goodness or people might think I was loopy!) it just does not work. But the amazing thing is every time your mind drifts away you get all messed up so it really helps me focus and remember I am talking to someone who is there. I think my best attempt is about 30 seconds so far… OK I know that is lame but all I can say is it’s better than when I started. You can use other two part sentences like Speak Lord – For your servant is Listening or Great Father in Heaven – Grant us your peace. Try it and let us know how you get on, or perhaps you have something else which helps you. If so please share!