Learning to pray with an open heart

The truth is I never really knew “how” to pray without feeling selfish. (Dear God, this is what I want. Amen.) In a couple short weeks at Living Water Community I have learned that prayer is much much deeper than sharing your wants with God. Prayer is a personal conversation. A conversation that helps me in ways I could not ask or imagine. God knows the desires of my heart so I have learned that I do not need to ask for anything…

In an earlier post I mentioned that I was struggling a bit in my prayer time. I have come to understand that my struggle comes from a place of insecurity… mostly over feeling a need for belonging.

I am a non-Catholic living in a Catholic community. I am christened Anglican but know very little about the following. My spiritual mentors are Anglican, Baptist and Catholic. I am journeying with God as a Christian nomad.

Sometimes I find the home I am living in a bit intimidating. Dinner with the founder of the community, sisters, brothers and priests is like sitting on a holy train first class when all you’ve got is a ticket for economy.

And yet this holy train continues to bless me on my journey.

Last night was spent deep in thought about the remaining two weeks at Living Water Community. Being here has inspired me to search for a spiritual place of belonging when I return to Canada.

In prayer God reminds me that I am on a journey to meet Him. The people I get to know along the way are examples of the kinds of relationships He can have with His people. Being holy, however, comes from a place within your heart. Whether lay or clergy, knowing, loving and following God is to be holy.