The Soul in a Single Point

This is the season of God's revelation among us. So how do we communicate with that revelation? Obviously, for Christians, it is through prayer.

One time, when I was in the second grade, I prayed that God would help me get through a test real fast so I could go out to the playground. I got through first, and even got a good grade! From that experience, I thought prayer could be a useful tool to get what I wanted or to get an extra boost when I needed to get through something quickly. Do you notice how much "get" was involved in that boyish prayer life?

St. Isaac of Nineveh had a message for me that I received much later in life. He said, "When we trust God with our whole heart, we don't fill our prayers with 'Give me this' or 'Take this from me.'" St. Isaac understood that prayer is not meant to be a tool or in the service of "me." The role of prayer is much richer than any attempt to manipulate God into doing my bidding or will. Prayer based in trust is pure intimacy with Unspeakable Beauty.

How in the world do we pray like that? One way is by simply breathing. Breath prayer is an ancient form in Christian practice. The monks of the fourth century who lived out in the desert called breath prayer "the prayer of the mind in the heart." They eschewed the use of images in their prayer, preferring the discipline of breathing in with "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God," and exhaling with, "Have mercy on me, a sinner." Through this practice, they discovered that over time prayer became as automatic as breathing and did indeed draw them to the place where their hearts and minds met.

In our typical day, we are pulled in a thousand directions. The fracturing of attention leaves us feeling splintered, anxious, and out of sorts. Our minds are usually headed one way while our hearts are setting off in a different direction. As a result, relationships are strained, the body feels exhausted, and emotions are on edge.
The cure is trust. Trust in God enough to make an offering of the most precious resource we have: time, just a few moments each day to sit in silence and breathe in the Presence of the One who made the earth and sky and you and me.

This simple discipline is the start of a journey of dual revelation. More and more you will feel the Presence of God permeate your life as you come to know yourself better. St. Isaac of Nineveh also said, "Humility collects the soul into a single point by the power of silence." In that single point, the heart and mind meet in the Presence of God.

"God, I want to play, so help me get through this test!" "Give me" and "Take away from me" aren't prayers to be discarded, for there are times when we need to petition our God. But prayer rich in silence or associated with breathing is not to be overlooked. Such prayer is a powerful gift from God to you. It has the ability to reach all the thousands of places we are splintered into each day and gently bring us back together, making us whole.

Joel t