The Journey
“Contemplative Prayer is really a life of learning to be receptively open to God’s presence in our lives. God is always present to us, but we are not always present to God.” Author, Jim Finley.
My name is Rev Ann Perrott and I am an Episcopal Priest living and working in Connecticut. Contemplative Prayer has always been a discipline that I have struggled to attain over the years and with minimal success. Like so many other things in my life, any attempt with certain goal (no matter what area of my life) needed to be achieved with perfection or near perfection. Average success was not permitted. Now, what I have finally understood in my 69 years of life (and the reason for this blog) is that, for me, the the beauty and actual success of any intention in life is always the journey. Since I have never been a very patient person I have typically wanted to skip the journey piece and get right to the success part. “How do I do it? What is the instruction? Can I start now? Yesterday? When will I see results? Why can’t I see them now?”
I understand now that the pursuit of any journey will probably entail a slow, sometimes frustrating and joyful mix of intention and patience–not that I have that much more, but am willing to give it a serious try. Contemplative Prayer is not an easy practice. It requires persistence in an ardent desire to be in the presence of God. No words of verbal request, explanation or rationalizing accompanies me on this journey. The only action involved is stillness and silence and resting in God. God is there and waiting. God has been waiting all these years but my verbal prayers have always been about what God could and would do for me. I am working on letting go of that way of being with the One who knows me and loves me beyond any idea of love I have ever had.
So, that is my intention with this practice called, Contemplative Prayer. Stay tuned for the ups and downs, the highs and lows, and the endless need for patience that I will surely require. A Betty Davis line is required here; “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.” I will experience a bump now and then, and with intention, that can only be a good thing. I hope to see you here, and that this space offers something you can connect with and enjoy. Blessings, Rev. Ann
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Sacred Intention 