A Deeper Love

As part of my requirements for school, I am doing a learning contract on centering prayer. One of the requirements of my contract is that I read a book and report on it. So I thought I’d share this process with you. The book I’m reading is called A Deeper Love—An Introduction to Centering Prayer by Elizabeth Smith and Joseph Chalmers. The first chapter talks about prayer as relationship, and explains the natural progression in any relationship in four stages:

1. Acquaintanceship,
2. Friendliness,
3. Friendship, and
4. Intimacy.
   

Since prayer represents communication in a relationship, this progression tracks how our prayers change as we grow in our relationship with God. In the intimacy stage, talking gives way to silence and just being together without words. It is this stage that the book is most concerned with.

In chapter 2, "Growing in prayer," they begin with a discussion of Psalm 139, explaining how God is everywhere we go, and already knows every word we might want to say. I’ve believed for years that when it comes to praying, words are highly overrated. Of much more import is our simple focus. It’s great to find a book that agrees with me. Four levels of prayer are considered:

1. lectio—reading,
2. meditatio—meditation or reflecting,
3. oratio—prayer, and
4. contemplatio—contemplation.

Contemplation is a gift from God. "Prayer is what we do; contemplation is what God does." This is God’s response to our silent connection with him. The book quotes St John of the Cross:

"One word the Father spoke,
which word was His son,
and this word He speaks
ever in eternal silence,
and in silence must it
be heard by the soul."

Well, I’ve got my goal set out for me: to comprehend God’s spoken word in silence.