I have done that at times. One summer I began running a loop
until I had reached three miles every morning. Each loop became a
silent prayer for a different person on my prayer list.
My twin brothers, Charlie and Johnny, spent a week in Greece this
winter walking all over an island that is almost totally dedicated to
prayer and meditation. They were amazed at the lives of the priests
and monks living in the beautiful old monasteries there. Most of
them were totally silent, totally focused on God.
Charlie brought me a bracelet used by one group of monks to
bring the meditations of their hearts into line with God. Knots were
tied, one at a time, creating the bracelet, and at each knot the monk
would say the Jesus Prayer: “Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,
a sinner.” Moving to the next knot, he would repeat the prayer. We
can use every repetitive part of our work, whatever it is, to focus our
hearts on Jesus. Housework, for instance, can be deadly dull, but
moving through each step with a prayer in our hearts and the Lord
in our lives draws us closer to him.
There are many techniques that can help to tame a noisy, unruly
spirit. Any time we center our minds on the Lord and his goodness,
he will touch us and bring forth in us the quiet inner prayers that
give him glory.
Father God, I choose to give you not only my audible words but my
silent thoughts. I invite you to reign in my spirit. Take over there and
bring peace and order to my inner being until my life becomes a
silent prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.178 CLAIRECLONINGER