| You may be asking yourself, "Why should I | | | | and spiritual. She recommended my brother's |
| meditate?". I know myself as a young man in my | | | | book Armchair Mystic. I had only skimmed |
| twenties, I used to think, "I' m a good person. I | | | | through the book when it was published thinking it |
| go to church regularly. I don't lie, cheat or steal | | | | was one of those how to pray books that was |
| and I know I'm not perfect but I generally lead a | | | | more for deeply spiritual people like my mom and |
| good, moral life in God's eyes. Why should I do | | | | brother Mark. But what I found was practical |
| anything different? I know I'm going to heaven." | | | | guide in getting started on my quiet journey. I |
| Many people ask this question. | | | | also became open to other non Catholic books |
| Fast forward 20 years. I'm living in Dallas, TX | | | | and authors like Wayne Dyer and Shinzen Young. |
| fresh out of a divorce in a job that's totally | | | | My eyes were opened to the fact that even |
| stressing me out. I was still doing all the "moral | | | | though I'm Catholic it's not a sin or going against |
| and faithful things" that we associate with being a | | | | my faith to explore other ways to pray in my |
| good Christian. But something was missing. My | | | | new found way, getting quiet. |
| wife and son hadn't filled the "hole" nor did the | | | | In conclusion, I urge you to step out of your |
| house, cars or "toys" in my possession. There | | | | prayer box. Whether your Catholic and raised only |
| was a constant longing for something that | | | | to go to Mass every week and say bedtime "Our |
| seemed just behind the curtain, hidden in the | | | | Fathers" or protestant and taught to memorize |
| shadows and just out of reach - the proverbial | | | | the bible, getting quiet could open new doors for |
| carrot on a string only I didn't know what the | | | | you and wake up something in you that your |
| carrot was or how to grasp it. I was living a life | | | | material, physical life can't provide. The "hole" can |
| by default. | | | | be filled in but not with a new car or better job. |
| Then one day I was talking to my mom about | | | | Getting quiet adds a suit of armor to your being |
| how stressful my life had become and how | | | | that can give you that sense of satisfaction and |
| unhappy I was. She told me two words that | | | | joyousness regardless of conditions. |
| would change my life and start me on a path to a | | | | Call to action: |
| closeness with God that I had never experienced | | | | 1. Try setting aside some time every day to just |
| before - she said you need to "Get Quiet". She | | | | sit and get quiet. Start slow at first. You don't |
| didn't say pray more or go to church more or | | | | have to do it for more than 10 minutes or so if |
| volunteer at the local shelter. She didn't tell me to | | | | that's all you can do. It's not easy transitioning |
| quit my job or move somewhere else or buy | | | | from our hectic, fast paced life to being able just |
| new furniture for the house for a change of | | | | to sit quietly for a time. It takes time so give it |
| scenery. She said "Get Quiet". She said even if it's | | | | time. The more you do it the easier it will be. |
| for a few minutes a day, turn off the TV, radio, | | | | 2. Read books for beginners in the categories of |
| computer, phone, whatever... Get away from all | | | | meditation and contemplative prayer. Use what |
| of modern day life's distractions and just get | | | | feels right to you. Be open to all suggestions and |
| quiet. I had seen her do this all my life. She always | | | | don't dismiss ideas just because they don't align |
| took the time each day to seclude herself in a | | | | with the way you were brought up to pray. See |
| quiet room. In my eyes it just made her a more | | | | my previous post on book recommendations or |
| holy and faithful person. What I didn't realize was | | | | send me a note and I can give you more. |
| that she was doing as a Christian what meditators | | | | 3. Remember that sitting alone with God is one of |
| and mystics have been doing for thousands of | | | | the most unselfish things you can do. It might |
| years. She was setting aside time every day to | | | | seem that you're secluding yourself from the |
| focus and concentrate on the spirit part of her | | | | world for a time being and how is that helping |
| existence. She wasn't just going through | | | | others or making the world a better place? But |
| memorized ritual prayer with the hope of winning | | | | creating a better world starts with you and when |
| God's favor she was actively taking part in a | | | | you improve your own well being you will |
| mystical union with her creator that was | | | | inherently make a more positive world for those |
| effectively energizing both of her parts - physical | | | | around you. And goodness is catchy! |