Sacred Attention
A Spiritual Practice for Finding God in the Moment
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
Just One Moment of Close Attention Can Be a Prayer to God
"Does God communicate through the natural world? Through the slug on the compost pile, the leaf on the lawn, the stone tumbled on the beach, the air that feeds my lungs, the dreams that fill my nights? How will I know unless I pay attention?"
—from the Introduction
Paying attention is rarely easy to do. It requires focus, patience and a willingness to slow down—traits that are hard to come by in this hurry-up world. But close attention to even one small piece of creation, one object, person, routine, image, word or scripture, can become a prayer to God, opening a channel of communication between you and the Divine to allow for deep spiritual growth.
In this inspiring guide, you will discover ways to develop a practice of attention as a means of talking—and listening—to God. Framed on the Christian liturgical year and paired with images of the seasons of the earth, each chapter includes an insightful and poignant narrative which illustrates the surprising richness to be found in every attention-getting moment. Following each narrative is a prayer, suggested scripture readings and a specific exercise you can use to develop your own practice of attention as a means to better connect with God.
Accessible, humorous and meaningful, these words and practices will lead you further along your path toward discovering a deeper awareness of yourself and your relationship to all that is around you—and within you.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Can playing the piano be a form of prayer? What about noticing seashells on the beach? Absolutely, argues McGee (Stumbling Toward God) the key is simply paying attention. McGee draws upon scripture readings, personal experiences and entries in her nature diary to produce this quirky but perceptive guide to paying attention. As an Episcopalian, McGee writes from a Christian perspective, but many Buddhists will feel at home in her language of mindfulness and living in the moment. Prayers, suggested readings and questions for reflection close out the short chapters, which are roughly arranged according to the liturgical seasons.