As Leighton Ford concludes Chapter 1 of The Attentive Life, he states that the first Epiphany story speaks powerfully to the stories of our own lives. When we consider the Magi following the star to Jesus, we are moved to ask: “In the desert times of our world, of our heart, where do we find the landmarks or the skylights that can lead us to spiritual survival?”
Epiphany calls us to pay attention to those events (stars) in our lives where Jesus has reached out to us as well as to be attentive to God’s Word, which points us to the brightest light- Jesus. Mr. Ford adds: “The path to attentiveness has already come to earth and is open for travel.”
The French writer Simone Weil (1910-1943) was deeply convinced that if people were able to pray the Lord’s Prayer with absolute attention, they would be transformed, even though each individual change in the soul was infinitesimal. Even if our efforts at attentiveness seem to constantly fall short, Weil offers these encouraging words:
“Even if our efforts of attention seem for years to be producing no result, one day a light that is in exact proportion to them will flood the soul.”
Today’s question: What do you think of Simone Weil’s idea of praying the Lord’s Prayer with absolute attention? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Waking up”
