Outward Gaze: Day 8
Author: Andrew Comiskey
October 21, 2020
‘This listening prayer is
the best possible training in the practice of the Presence of God. In looking
to Him, we are drawn up and out of the hell of self-consciousness and
introspection. We become God-conscious. Stan learned to resolutely check
himself when he was turning inward--the practice of the presence of self--and, in
that very moment, to cast his mind and eyes of his heart (imagination) on the
Lord. “I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Me” (Is. 26:3),
has always been the promise of God, and it is the very best way of all to be
healed of the disease of introspection.’ (The Broken Image, p. 71)
Skeptics accuse ‘inner
healers’ of a dour inward focus, scouring their souls for unhealed memories,
etc. Leanne hated that. She insisted on persons first exercising the discipline
of practicing the Presence of Jesus. That means activating the will to call to
mind and heart the ONE who is always with us. In truth, Jesus sustains our very
lives in His love and is ever ready to send His word, be it through Scripture
or His still small voice. In our distress, we look to Him, not our distress!
Therein lies His capacity to heal us.
Of course, Leanne realized
the subtext of wounds and wrong beliefs that we need to sort out. She writes
volumes on both! But sensitive souls harm themselves by getting lost in the
cosmos of their brokenness. If Jesus is our Healer, then we must learn in a new
way to engage with Him--praying without ceasing--to the One who is there. He in truth
is closer than a family member, a spouse, a best friend, a pastor, or a
therapist. He wants to be ‘everything to a lonely soul,’ quoting St. Faustina.
Then we can bring to Him
those things that disquiet us. Our outward gaze helps us to face demons in the
light of One who helps us to hurl them out, and to heal.
‘Jesus, forgive me for
taking my healing on myself, not looking to You as my Healer. Teach me to
practice Your Presence, more than mine.’
‘Jesus, please confirm Amy
Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court.’
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