I wish that I could say that meditation comes easily for me. After all, it is a simple sounding concept: listening to God. That is the moment where I find myself quickly derailed. If it is really that easy, why do I struggle so much with it? Looking back at what I wrote about it last year sheds a little light on it, but doesn't fulfill my need for a complete explanation.
When I first read the chapter in Celebration of Discipline, I thought that surely I would be able to meditate like a professional after reading a study of it. This theory couldn't be any further removed from the truth. What I did was sit down with my notebook, pen, and highlighters prepared to study all of the aspects of meditation. I came out with a good academic understanding of why Christians meditate, where to find references to Biblical figures engaging in meditation, and even good ways in which to engage in meditation. None of this left me capable of effectively meditating, as the practice is done with the heart and not with the brain.
Academic comprehension comes easily for me, but allowing my heart to interpret and understand what God is trying to communicate with me is a huge struggle. I wish that I could meditate like some of the great Psalmists, Eli, or Jesus. I know that this is something that I need to work on, to practice, before it will come naturally. Yes, I realize that this is something I can't force to happen, but I can try to place myself in situations conducive to it occurring.
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