Ronald Rolheiser has encouraging words for any of us who may be concerned that we do not feel more in prayer:
"If we pray only occasionally, we might well experience some pretty deep emotions in our prayer. However, if we pray faithfully every day, year in and year out, we can expect little excitement, lots of boredom, and regular temptations to look at the clock during prayer; but we can also expect through the years an ever deepening intimacy with our God."
That is not something that is often acknowledged, is it? We live in a world that prizes emotional highs and high energy, so this kind of steady, unexciting experience of prayer seems surprising when it comes to growing a friendship with God.
Rolheiser says that a deepening intimacy with God flows out of faithfully turning up and being present. He goes on to say that in the same way that a regular visit to an elderly parent with Alzheimer's may not seem like an exciting, dramatic moment, yet it undeniably builds intimacy between parent and child. It is the same with prayer.
May we be encouraged to keep on keeping on in prayer, and not be too hard on ourselves when we feel tempted to glance at the clock during prayer :)
"If we pray only occasionally, we might well experience some pretty deep emotions in our prayer. However, if we pray faithfully every day, year in and year out, we can expect little excitement, lots of boredom, and regular temptations to look at the clock during prayer; but we can also expect through the years an ever deepening intimacy with our God."
That is not something that is often acknowledged, is it? We live in a world that prizes emotional highs and high energy, so this kind of steady, unexciting experience of prayer seems surprising when it comes to growing a friendship with God.
Rolheiser says that a deepening intimacy with God flows out of faithfully turning up and being present. He goes on to say that in the same way that a regular visit to an elderly parent with Alzheimer's may not seem like an exciting, dramatic moment, yet it undeniably builds intimacy between parent and child. It is the same with prayer.
May we be encouraged to keep on keeping on in prayer, and not be too hard on ourselves when we feel tempted to glance at the clock during prayer :)