Rapt in Attention

"Attention is the rarest and purist form of generosity.....Even if our efforts of attention seem for years to be producing no result, one day a light that is in exact proportion to them will flood the soul.” 

- Simone Weil

Paying attention, and especially to God in prayer. It DOES take generosity and patience. It requires waiting for the mind and the imagination to stop fidgeting and reining in the emotions' constant threat to bolt for "greener pastures". It takes a lot of practice and patience over and over again.

Yet, we know in our hearts, by experience, how wonderful it is when someone is paying full attention to US. The interest on their face. The look in their eyes. The questions they ask. If we ask them to read something we have written that is very intimate to our hearts and souls, and they do it with full attention, we become filled with a joy that is hard to explain, but is so very profound. For we are loved at that moment above all others.

We need to be attentive to God in that way. To give Him our undivided attention. To read His word knowing it is filled with His most intimate thoughts. It takes focus and a generous spirit for us to do this, for we can't SEE Him, alas! And our feelings keep scratching at the door of our soul to be let out to find something we can SEE and FEEL. But if we shush them in patience each time we pray, we make Him know that He is loved at that moment above all others. How tenderly He receives this gift. If we could see His eyes, I think we might die of joy.

But Scripture says, "He will not be outdone in generosity". When we think of Jesus waiting for US in prayer. Attentive. Hanging on our every word. Perhaps asking us questions through the Scripture we have just read. In very truth He is rapt in attention. We are at that moment loved above all others. The only thing in the room for Him. That is a truth that makes the heart....cry in joy.

Jesus is that humble. To be rapt in attention for us. But we are assured He is. This assurance is worth all patience, all effort at attention on our part. And light will come, as Simone Weil promises. I believe her. Light will come.