How’s your life? Do you feel like you’re doing well in life, like you know where you’re going? Do you feel like you have good instructions for how to live? These days we rush around a lot, not leaving much time for planning, for contemplating, frankly, for God. Dallas Willard writes a parable about our time:

"Recently a pilot was practicing high-speed maneuvers in a jet fighter. She turned the controls for what she thought was a steep ascent—and flew straight into the ground. She was unaware that she had been flying upside down.

Shortly after I came to faith, my Sunday school teacher said he was reading a little booklet entitled, My Heart—Christ’s Home.¹ It is a beautiful allegory of how Jesus knocks at the door of our heart; when we open the door, He comes in to make a home.² I experienced mystery when I invited Jesus into my heart. I could not define the mystery until later when my formal spiritual formation began, but initially there was a definite awareness of the beginning stages of transformation as Jesus took up residence within me.

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Would anyone choose me?” One of the most important Advent messages we can embrace this Christmas season is that God loves us—that we are chosen as His Beloved. Last week I was jarred when I read John 15:16 - “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you."¹ I remember the evening I came to faith. I thought I chose God. Now all these years later I read, “Lee, you did not chose Me, but I chose you.” Reality check!

When I look at a photograph of my wife an image in my mind and heart is evoked. I feel the emotion of love in my heart and my mind is filled with an ocean of memories. I remember laughs we have shared over the years, but I also remember tears as we have navigated through difficult times. I feel joy for the laughter, but sadness for how my brokenness has caused her pain. A photograph is an example of an icon or form of symbol that fortifies reality for me.

Life is a journey and sometimes a battle. Frequently, it seems life is both simultaneously. As I write this, I am still moving in my own personal journey of knowing God more intimately. Just as you do in your life, I struggle against the hectic daily demands of our post-modern contemporary society to make space for Him in contemplative prayer. There is always the challenge, perhaps temptation would be a better word, to coast back to knowing about God, rather than maturing in our relationship with Him.

This morning as I was praying, in my head I heard the music and the words of the praise song, “As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul panteth after Thee. You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee.” The composer of those lyrics was apparently inspired by Psalms 42:1. And so it happens that as we make space to come into the very healing presence of Jesus in contemplative prayer that we discover who we really are. In the quietness of that space, our identities become posited in the true self God created us to walk in.

When I was invited to write this column, I was a little bit intimidated about where to begin. Saints have written volumes about contemplative prayer. My wife can certainly tell you that I am no saint. But St. Augustine’s words, “My soul is restless until it rests in You O God,” penetrate to the deep passion of my heart. Prayer is a movement of response to our Creator who loves us and pursues us like the hounds of heaven. God is the consummate lover who wants to be in an intimate relationship with us as His created beings.