Just One Moment of Close Attention Can Be a
Prayer to God
“Does God communicate through the
natural world? Through the slug on the compost pile, the leaf
on the lawn, the stone tumbled on the beach, the air that feeds
my lungs, the dreams that fill my nights? How will I know
unless I pay attention?”
–from the Introduction
Paying attention is rarely easy to do. It
requires focus, patience and a willingness to slow
down—traits that are hard to come by in this hurry-up
world. But close attention to even one small piece of creation,
one object, person, routine, image, word or scripture, can
become a prayer to God, opening a channel of communication
between you and the Divine to allow for deep spiritual growth.
In this inspiring guide, you will discover
ways to develop a practice of attention as a means of
talking—and listening—to God. Framed on the
Christian liturgical year and paired with images of the seasons
of the earth, each chapter includes an insightful and poignant
narrative which illustrates the surprising richness to be found
in every attention-getting moment. Following each narrative is
a prayer, suggested scripture readings and a specific exercise
you can use to develop your own practice of attention as a
means to better connect with God.
Accessible, humorous and meaningful, these
words and practices will lead you further along your path
toward discovering a deeper awareness of yourself and your
relationship to all that is around you—and within you.
“Beautiful, passionate and very
personal … reminds us again of why we need to be aware of
the present moment: that’s where God is.”
—John
Lionberger, author, Renewal in the Wilderness: A Spiritual Guide to
Connecting with God in the Natural World
“Genuinely profound
… Offers wise counsel to develop in practical ways a deep and intimate relationship with the immediacy of life. An invaluable resource for those interested in realizing the spiritual in daily life.”
—Christopher
Titmuss, co-founder, Gaia House; author, An Awakened Life: Uncommon Wisdom from Everyday Life
“Leaps alive with insightful
stories, honest reflection and practical suggestions of finding
the Divine in the daily-ness of our lives.… A must for
anyone seeking or struggling to create a spiritual
practice.”
—Nancy
Corcoran, CSJ, author, Secrets of Prayer: A Multifaith Guide to
Creating Personal Prayer in Your Life
“Attention is the great problem of
our distractable age. Here’s a solution!”
—Bill
McKibben, author, The End of Nature
“Uncovers the presence of God in
scripture, nature, everyday events, and the glad tidings of
creativity. These observations and practices are sturdy
companions.”
—Frederic
and Mary Ann Brussat, co-directors,
spiritualityandpractice.com; coauthors, Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday
Life and
Spiritual Rx.: Prescriptions for
Living a Meaningful Life
“Puts St. Paul’s teaching of
‘pray without ceasing’ into the context of our
everyday lives. A poetic and practical, eloquent and accessible
book.”
—Alice
Peck, editor, Next to Godliness: Finding the Sacred in Housekeeping
“[Provides] a connection to peace,
to faith, and to natural compassion—a ‘homey’
comfort.”
—Sylvia
Boorstein, author, Pay Attention, For Goodness’ Sake:
The
Buddhist Path of Kindness
“A pilgrim’s field guide to
the Sacred.… Reminds us that by waiting and watching we
will encounter the Sacred in the everyday stuff of
life.”
—Philip
Harnden, author, Journeys of Simplicity: Traveling Light with Thomas
Merton, Bashō, Edward Abbey, Annie Dillard & Others
