Contemplative Prayer

Although I preach grace, I often really want works.

When I train for a marathon, I know that if I put in the miles, I will make it across the finish line. I want to be able to achieve the same level of spiritual strength by my own works.

However, in his book “Contemplative Prayer,” Thomas Merton writes:

From these texts we see that in meditation we should not look for a “method” or “system,” but cultivate an “attitude,” an “outlook”: faith, openness, attention, reverence, expectation, supplication, trust, joy.

This is what I want, but it is much harder.

I want to do, when I need to be.

I want to achieve, when I need to rest.

I want to speak, when I need to silence.

I want to have the spiritual maturity of an 80 year old man, when I only have four decades of experience.  

May God grant me the grace of "attitude" and "outlook" so I might more fully rest in joy.