The Surprising Key to Amazing Prayer

Monk Mindset for Living Well

Monk Mindset 1

Show Up and Receive the Light: Meditation and Prayer

Reflection on the Monk Mindset & Quote

When I was in the monastery, the bell would ring at 5:30 AM for Lauds - our first prayer of the day. In the darkness before dawn, we'd shuffle into the chapel, half-awake, sometimes grumpy, definitely not feeling "holy."

But here's what I learned during those years: showing up is 80% of the spiritual life.

Saint Teresa understood this. She didn't say prayer was about eloquent words, mystical experiences, or even feeling particularly devout – even though she had all of these. She said it was about "intimate sharing” and “taking time frequently”. 

Friends show up for each other, especially when they don't feel like it. Prayer is the same way.

Most of us approach meditation and prayer like we approach everything else in our achievement-oriented culture. We want results. We want to "get good" at it. We want spiritual experiences that validate our efforts.

But the monastic tradition teaches something radically different: 

Your job is simply to show up. 

God's job is to do the rest.

I remember countless mornings in that chapel when my mind wandered, when I felt nothing, when prayer felt like I was talking to the ceiling. The older brothers would just smile and say, "You showed up. That's enough."

The light we receive isn't dependent on our performance. It's dependent on our presence.

Put It Into Practice This Week

This week, commit to showing up for 10 minutes of prayer or meditation each day - same time, same place, no matter how you feel. If you’re already doing that, add a few minutes more. 

Here's a simple framework you can try:

Minutes 1-2: Arrive
Sit quietly. Don't try to pray or meditate yet. Just arrive. Notice how you feel. Notice your mind racing with tomorrow's to-do list. That's normal.

Minutes 3-7: Show Up
Now simply be present to God, however you understand God. Don't worry about saying the right words or having profound thoughts. Just be there, like you're sitting with a friend.

Minutes 8-10: Receive
Don't try to grab anything. Open your hands or some other posture that helps align your body with your intent to receive. Don't evaluate whether this is "working." Just remain open to whatever light wants to come through - peace, insight, or simply the grace of having shown up. 

The goal isn't to become a "good" meditator or have mystical experiences. The goal is friendship with the One who loves us, and friends don't keep score.

Show up. The light will find you there.

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