BOOK REVIEW: Merton's Palace of Nowhere

 

Merton’s Palace of Nowhere: A Search for God through Awareness of the True Self by James Finley

 This book explores spirituality, especially contemplative prayer, as understood by Thomas Merton, an American theologian and mystic.

 Merton viewed life from the perspective of a false self and a true self. Basically, the false self is man prior to redemption, whereas the true self is the redeemed man. He describes the false self as “someone that I was never intended to be and therefore a denial of what I am supposed to be.”

 We find our true selves in faith through service and communion with God in wordless prayer. Merton likens this experience to the ripening of an apple on a tree: It takes place in God’s time.

 Author James Finley writes “The purpose of our prayer is to help us find God, so that we consciously and gratefully live this life, and through our presence invite others to live it as well.”

 I appreciated the many quotes from Merton sprinkled throughout the book that offer insight into the mind and soul of a soulful man.

 This book opened my eyes to the beauty of spending a concentrated time of prayer simply sitting before God, listening, rather than telling Him what to do. It’s a great read for anyone seeking a deeper spirituality.

  

Let Us Pray . . . In a Different Way - Part 2

 

A few months ago I wrote of three different ways to pray and promised to share more ways with you.

 First, I will describe my personal daily prayer time pattern. For many years now, I’ve adapted a prayer journal (PRAYERS OF MY HEART by Debbie Taylor Williams) that lists the days of the week in rows down the side of a double-page spread and leaves space for nine column headings across the top. I use one spread per month and fill rows for only Monday through Friday. Weekends I pray spontaneously about whatever is on my heart.

 My column headings are Family, Friends of the Heart (my speaking ministry team), Friends, Personal, Missions, Needs and Country. Even though listed on various days, I pray for all but Friends and Missions on a daily basis. I use this “listing” method because if I did not, I’d forget some of those for whom I want to pray as time goes by. Yet there are just too many friends and missionaries to pray for all on a daily basis.

 My prayer time always starts by praising God for giving me everything I need through His creation, praising Jesus for my salvation and praising the Holy Spirit for His inspiration. Then I confess my sins before going on to the columns. I finish with general thanksgiving and praise and sing a song or two from a hymnal.

 That’s my general pattern. When I’m ill, I may simply picture myself curled in the lap of God, drawing comfort from Him. When I have early appointments and miss my prayer time, I simply connect with God on the run.

 Second, I refresh my prayer time any day of the week by using the centering, scripture or lament styles I previously shared or one of the following patterns, all of which Adele Ahlberg Calhoun describes in SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES.

 Welcoming Prayer: This is my favorite. In this prayer, you simply welcome God into the events and relationships that you’re praying about. Instead of telling God what you want, you release your sense of control and invite Jesus into the situation. 

 Calhoun suggests we notice when a person or event triggers something within us and simply pray “Welcome, Jesus, welcome.” She suggests we anticipate the events of the day and invite Jesus into them.

 Conversational Prayer: In this style, we talk naturally to God as we pray WITH others. We might do this when a friend expresses a need either in person, by phone (or even in email). Just ask, “May I pray with you about that?” and then talk to God about their need. You might suggest that the two of you take turns praying. And you can pray conversationally with others in a Bible study group (as I do with Friends of the Heart) or with a family member. My husband and I take turns praying before meals and at bedtime.

 It may be hard to get over self-consciousness (at least it was for me) about praying out loud, but try it a time or two and the blessing outweighs the initial discomfort. 

 Breath Prayer: This form of contemplative prayer is linked to the in-and-out pattern of breathing. Calhoun suggests breathing in with a name of God (Jesus, Father, Abba, Precious Lord) and breathing out with a brief description of a need. I think of it simply as calling out to God throughout the day with needs or with praises.

 Now having said all that, I want to stress that prayer is simply seeking God. There is no formula. We usually seek communion with God through communication. But communion might also be realized wordlessly–sitting beneath a tree, feeling a breeze, watching a flower. We simply need to be alone, be quiet and be determined to draw closer to God. And He will draw closer to us.

 Incorporate one of these ways of praying this week and you’ll be blessed. No matter how or how frequently we pray, God hears our prayers. So let us pray . . . one way or another.