LITTLE ROCK — Empty the mind. Let the distractions of the day fall away. Listen. God is waiting. That, in a nutshell, is centering prayer, a contemplative practice rooted in the ancient Christian church and one Pastor Tom Ward will share during a workshop in Little Rock.
Ward, an Episcopal priest for more than 30 years, will lead the day-long seminar March 5 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1000 N. Mississippi St. The cost is $25 and includes breakfast and lunch.
Although it’s an ancient tradition, centering prayer was made popular in modern times by a trio of Trappist monks in the 1970s - Thomas Keating, William Meninger and Basil Pennington at St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Mass. Their goal was to let Christians know that meditative prayer isn’t confined to Eastern religions, such asBuddhism. It’s a lesson Ward also hopes to share.
“Part of my sense of vocation lies in helping folks understand that this form ofprayer is deeply grounded in our tradition,” Ward said.
Centering prayer uses silence as a way to seek communion with God.
“Most people associate praying with words, but there is this whole deep tradition that talks about praying without words,” Ward said. “You get beyond words to the pure relationship, where all that [inner] chatter goes away.”
In explaining centering prayer Ward uses Matthew 6:6 as an example, with Jesus contrasting the prayers of those who stood on the street corner and prayed publicly for all to see.
“They liked to pray with lots of words,” he said. “But Jesus said for you to go in your room, shut the door and pray to your Abba in secret.”
The reward of centering prayer, Ward said, is intimacy with God. But he admits the practice isn’t for everyone, mainly because many people are uncomfortable with silence.
“One of the reasons there will never be a mass movement is that this is scary,” he said. “What you are letting go of is what you think you knowand going into nothing. You are being invited to trust God beyond what you think you know about Him, to trust God and God alone.”
The prayer style involves letting go of anxiety, of the busyness of the day, the clutter in the mind and just being with God instead of rattling off a list of wants and needs.
“You kneel down and you want to pray and what you are thinking about is what you’ll have for lunch,” Ward said. “Centering prayer is a way of dealing with distracting thoughts.”
Ward said the practice is common in Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Episcopal traditions, but it’s applicable for all Christians. For example, the Baptist tradition of praying and meditating on Scriptures is also grounded in Jesus’ instructions to pray in private, he said.
“God kind of leads souls here,” Ward said. “The spirit wants to do this ... Jesus says come away and rest awhile.”
Ward will teach participants about the practice and offer suggestions for setting up centering prayer groupsto offer support and feedback. He said it might not be easy in the beginning, but time alone with God is essential.
“Go into the room and spend significant time alone with your beloved,” he said. “If you don’t spend the time you won’t have a relationship. It’s going to cost you some.”
Pastor Danny Schieffler, priest at St. Mark’s, has been practicing centering prayer for years and hopes those participating in the workshop will see the possibilities in such prayer. Schieffler said the prayer has sustained him more than any other spiritual discipline.
“In an often troubling and unstable world this prayer has been a constant source of peace, strength, healing and inspiration,” he said. “It’s a rock upon which to stand against the prevailing cultural forces. It’s a spiritual lifeline to the transcendent to help you get through this life.”
The workshop is from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 5. Registration begins at 8:30. Advance registration can be made by contacting the church at (501) 225-4203 or by e-mail at secretary@st-marks.com.
Religion, Pages 32 on 02/24/2011