Henri Nouwen, With Open Hands. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1972, p.14.
The man invited to pray is asked to open his tightly clenched fists and to give up his last coin. But who wants to do that? A first prayer, therefore is often a painful prayer, because you discover you don’t want to let go. You hold fast to what is familiar, even if you aren’t proud of it.
2 comments:
This passage about prayer is inviting us to let go of the places in our lives where we are stuck, overly attached. But before we can do that, we need to be able to notice where those places are. We need to unclench enough to move towards the places that frighten us, the places where we are afraid to look, and see what is there.
Loving God, help me to see all the places in my life where I am stuck, and help me to let go of my attachments. Help me to trust that you are there holding me, so that when I let go, I will be all right. Help me to move towards you, opening and unclenching.
I have to get my hands on more Nouwen, as this speaks volumes to my soul. My experience in unclenching my fist, letting go of what I hold too dear, is that it lands me presently in today, exactly where Godess wants me to be, has me in Her loving open palm.
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