(This is one of a series of 6 posts, if you missed any, you can start here)
BONUS STEP – Giving Thanks!
So after all of this is done, you’ve cleared your mind, read and meditated, found a word or been told to return tomorrow. What do you do? Close up the books and turn on the television? Sure, if you are like the 9 lepers who didn’t return to thank the Lord.
This is the final step – Thanksgiving. Thank God for the time spent, the word, the peace, the grace, the struggle, and for telling you something you wanted to hear as well as what you didn’t want to hear. Thank Him for all of it. Once that is done, lose yourself in gratefulness and thanksgiving. Thank God for every breath, your home, your family, your food, your joy, your pain, your work, the weather, the journey. Make an extended thanksgiving. You’ve just spent such an intimate time with a dear friend who knows you better than anyone. Thank Him for that gift, be reluctant to leave. Remember the timer, has it gone off yet? Has the porch light flashed? If not, spend time loving and thanking God for all he has done, continues to do and will do in your life. Once you’ve made a sufficient thanksgiving, move on with your day, eager to return to the Lord as soon as possible.
The Habit of Meditation
Following these 4 Simple Steps will surely bring you much fruit in prayer and meditation. However, as the Catechism stated – “..a method is only a guide… This form of prayerful reflection is of great value, but Christian prayer should go further: to the knowledge of the love of the Lord Jesus, to union with him.” As I stated at the beginning, this is one way of learning to meditate that I have found extremely helpful in my own life. Here are the 4 Steps again:
Step 1 – Clear Your Mind
Step 2 – Read the Scriptures
Step 3 – Join the Story
Step 4 – Ask, Seek, Find
I would highly recommend making a commitment here and now to meditate in this way for the next 30 days. Doing so will help you develop the habit of meditation. Use the worksheets and journal pages in this book to help you develop the habit of meditation and examine your thoughts over the course of those 30 days. Think about your thinking. You will be amazed! As you “go further” you will find your own ideas and ways not mentioned here. This habit exercised daily or as often as possible will lead you to deeper meditations but more importantly to a deeper relationship with the Lord.
Final Practical Steps
1. Study the 4 Steps to Better Meditations (Even better get the book {free version available})
2. Commit to meditate following this method for 30 days for at least 20 minutes per day..
3. Keep a journal of your thoughts and prayers for those 30 days.
4. Frequent the sacraments as often as your state in life will allow.
5. At the end of 30 days, reread your journal and thank God for His goodness.
6. Start again on another 30 day adventure with step #1 and extend your time in meditation 5-10 minutes.
May God bless you and may we all meet in person in the Kingdom!
James M. Hahn, Author 