Hold space open for God
A story told by Brian McLaren in Naked Spirituality . . .
“I don’t know if this story about Mother Teresa is true or not, but it tells the truth whether or not it happened.
Mother Teresa was asked by a reporter what she said to God when she prayed. She replied, ‘Mostly I just listen.’
The reporter then asked what God said to her, ‘Mostly he just listens,‘ she replied.
Could it be that the loving, attentive, mutual listening of the soul and the Spirit constitute the greatest expression of spirituality? . . . Holy listening holds space open between beloved and Beloved, the soul and God, and that space, like the silence in which all music happens, holds infinite possibilities.”
May we value silence.
May we treasure listening.
May we hold space open for God.
* * *
- God’s good china–it’s you
- It Is Music to Me – 9 Songs that Are Saving My Faith
Good reminder, Lisa. Needed for sure. Thanks.
This is SO important!
Sometimes God speaks slowly, and chooses His words carefully. We should not be in such a hurry that we try to finish His sentences for Him.
You’ve hit on something big with this, Andrew – how often we must finish God’s sentences for him. . . . That’s something to slow down and think (and pray!) about.
And didn’t Andrew say it best …
What can I add except a hearty amen.
Let’s sit quietly with the Lover of our souls. And not be so eager to move on to the next thing on our lists.
Thought provoking Lisa, I am listening.
Amen! That is something that is so hard to do in today’s rushed world, but the value of it can never be underestimated. Thank you for the reminder today, Lisa.
What a great story and reminder, Lisa. I have by my desk the Anthony de Mello quote:
Look at God
Looking at you,
and smiling.
quite a definition of prayer. I think Mother Theresa might approve.
I love that quote, Jean. I need to print it off myself and set it somewhere I can see frequently. Thanks.
Hi Lisa! Listening in prayer is so important, and it runs completely against our nature. I know I just want to blab out all my needs, like he doesn’t know them already. I know you and I are working on our contemplative prayer, and we try to address this desire to talk all the time. It’s hard!
Hope you had a great weekend!
Ceil
It’s nice to know I’ve got a compatriot working through this listening stuff, Ceil. The past few weeks I’ve spent even more time in contemplative prayer. It both calms me and reminds me how much I need that muted time with the Lord (as much as my noisy brain will allow).