When we come into our time of prayer, it can be helpful not to rush that moment. Slow down, perhaps to light a candle or sit in our favourite prayer spot.
And then, as we settle into the quiet, we become aware of how God is present to me in this particular moment. It is like the moment when we come into the presence of a friend and sense the connection between us.
Sometimes, especially when entering into prayer, it can be beneficial to sense how God is looking at me today.
There is a beautiful story about an old man who used to sit each day for a long time just sitting staring at the tabernacle. When John Vianney, the priest, asked him what he was doing, the man explained, “I look at him and he looks at me.”
In his book “The Church of Mercy”, Pope Francis asks, “Do you let yourself be looked at by the Lord? God looks at us, and this is itself a way of praying.”
If you struggle to sense God looking at you in love, you may more easily sense God’s loving presence in some other way. It could be felt like a warm cloak enfolding you. Perhaps you can “hear” a quiet word of welcome or sense a hand on your shoulder.
It also helps in this first moment of prayer to notice how am I as I come to this meeting with my friend today. Perhaps I am stressed from the rush of the day or distracted by many concerns. I may come excited, looking forward to sharing something special that happened in the day. Maybe I am very tired, and it feels hard to be present. It can help to
pause and share with God how I feel as I begin our time together.
