Freefall Into The Mystery

James Finley wrote, “Even now by faith we lose our footing and fall into a new, unending center in which we are upheld by God and not by the narrow base of our ego’s self-assertion.” The silence of centering prayer teaches me how to lose my footing—and be caught by God. It enables me to let go of my ego’s insistence that it is the center of the world.

Silent prayer is a paradox. We both freefall into an infinite Mystery and are upheld by God at the same time. The deeper we fall, we never hit bottom, for God has no limit. We plunge into the depths of Mystery, yet we are held securely by the love of God.

Faith is what allows me to take this leap into the unknown. What do I have faith in? I have faith that there is something much bigger than me. I do not have to live in separation. Instead, I can live in this Mystery; I can participate in it, rest in it. I am safe inside it, unconditionally loved.

Centering prayer is a safe place to practice life in God so that we can continue to live in God during our non-centering times. All of life can become a beautiful prayer that abides with us throughout the day and its many activities.

Rich Lewis is an author, speaker and coach who focuses on centering prayer as a means of inner transformation. His book, Sitting with God: A Journey to Your True Self Through Centering Prayer (288 pages) is available now.