65: Practice Centering Prayer

I realize this is probably not the ideal way to start out an episode, but here we go: I’ll never forget the first time I experienced seasickness (see what I mean?). Anyway, I was a teenager, maybe around 16. My family was spending a long weekend in Cedar Key, FL, a quaint little fishing town on the Gulf of Mexico. We rented a small boat for our time there and I was totally fine most of the weekend. But on one particular trip out to sea (out to Gulf?) I started to feel absolutely awful. 

Now here’s the thing: up until that point, I hadn’t experienced any sort of seasickness, carsickness, motion sickness, nothing like that. In fact, I remember priding myself in middle school for getting to go on a snorkeling excursion with my dad in the Florida Keys; my mom and sister couldn’t handle the waves and they had to stay back. But my stomach was strong and I got to go and it was amazing.

But, as they say, pride comes before a fall. It was like a switch flipped this trip. My mom and sister were fine because the water was mostly calm, but for some reason, my stomach was swirling. And I didn’t quite know how to cope.

And that’s when I learned what many, many people already knew. If you’re experiencing motion sickness, it helps to find a fixed point that you can focus on. That reminds your body that sturdy ground exists, even if you don’t feel like you’re currently standing on it. It helps provide stability in the midst of chaos. And so, on our way back to solid ground, I picked a point on the horizon and tried my best not to let it go.

I don’t know about you, but I find that sometimes, in the swirling chaos of day-to-day life, I need that fixed point. I need something I can focus on, something I can come back to, something that reminds me of who God is and who I’m called to be in the middle of it all. Sound familiar?

Now, usually this podcast is not very prescriptive or specific. That’s intentional. I like to leave that work to the Holy Spirit while I focus on creating room and space for you to take what I offer and make it specific for your own particular life and context. But every now and then, well, I feel led to switch things up. As you’ll see with today’s episode, there will still be space for you to make it your own. So, here we go.  

When I feel tossed about by the waves of everyday life, one of the practices I’ve found helpful is called Centering Prayer. Maybe you’re already very familiar with this practice, maybe you’ve heard of it but haven’t ever tried it, or maybe this is your very first introduction to it. Either way, this is a practice that is intended to help us remember. The hope is that a regular practice of Centering Prayer will lead to a life of unceasing prayer, a life in which we are aware of God’s presence and action all throughout our day. In a way, the hope is that our lives will become centered prayers.

That’s the big-picture goal. But in order to reach a goal, we need to practice. So without further ado, I offer a few steps for Centering Prayer: 

First, begin by setting aside a certain amount of time. Now, I’ve heard that 20 minutes is the sweet spot. If that works for you, go for it. But as one of my professors Jan Johnson likes to remind us, “Do as you can, not as you must.” So, do what you can. You’ve got less than 10 minutes? Awesome. Set a timer and give it a try.

Second, find a quiet, comfortable spot to sit, away from as many distractions as possible. And, you’ll want to try to sit in that same spot each time you practice. Now again, do as you can, not as you must. But that’s the most ideal set-up.

Third, choose a word, a phrase, or even an image that you can come back to when your mind inevitably wanders. This word, phrase, or image will reflect your intention, the heart behind why you are choosing to show up in prayer this way. Maybe you are showing up anxious. Your word might be “peace.” Maybe you’re showing up tired. Your word might be “rest.” Maybe you feel inadequate. Your phrase might be, “Help me, Lord.” No matter what you choose, your selection is your fixed point, your personal reminder, for the duration of the prayer. 

Finally, you sit in the silence. You don’t have to say a thing. It’s not about you having the right words or really any words at all. It’s about becoming more aware of God’s presence and action through the posture of a listening heart. When your mind wanders, when you find yourself distracted by your own thoughts, worries, or to-do lists, you simply come back to your word, phrase or image. You acknowledge the distraction without any guilt or shame, but you don’t dwell on it or let it toss you about. 

Until your timer goes off, simply listen, close your eyes, breathe, going back to your fixed point as often as necessary. The more you practice, the less awkward or difficult it will become. It’s also important to note that you won’t always “hear” something. It will often feel like you are just sitting in silence with nothing to show for it. But, as Jan Johnson writes in her book, When the Soul Listens:

In the beginning, it takes time and a little effort to quiet ourselves and bring our thoughts and attention within our hearts to the point where we can listen to what’s going on in our souls. It’s more than quieting because it involves a steady focus within. To do this requires gently detaching from all the things we’ve been told we should do today, such as washing down the driveway or cooking dinner. Little by little, as we let go of concerns surrounding us, we become steadily aware of God’s presence and attentive to anything God might say. We’re not forcing anything, but if God wants to speak to us about something, we’re ready.

For me, Jan’s point about not forcing anything has been a helpful reminder. And as I continue to show up for this practice, to be honest, I don’t often experience anything extraordinary. It’s more that I have the chance to, as Henri Nouwen puts it, “empty out [my] crowded interior life and create the quiet space where [I] can dwell with God.” Sometimes it feels like a waste of time, but I’m learning that becoming more mindful of God’s presence and action in my life is never a waste.

The more we engage in and practice Centering Prayer, the more we move toward our lives becoming centered prayers. We remember who God is and how God works and we are mindful of who God is calling us to be. We live lives anchored in that truth, even when the waves of life might threaten to toss us to and fro. 

So today, if you’re feeling the effects of a chaotic life, remember your fixed point and consider practicing Centering Prayer. May our lives stay centered on the truth of who God is as we seek to be the people God calls us to be, relying on Jesus as a strong anchor for our souls.