How may we deepen our friendship and intimacy with God? Let me suggest reading and savoring the quote from Fr. Thomas Keating. Before you read the following quote from Fr. Thomas Keating’s Open Mind, Open Heart, allow me to explain what he means by the Sacred Word. The use of a one or two syllable word that you choose is a means of detaching from distractions during prayer. This approach for handling distracting thoughts is based on the spiritual classic, The Cloud of Unknowing. Commonly referenced as The Cloud, the anonymous author lived in Great Britain during the 1300s. The book is addressed to a young contemplative who is looking for spiritual guidance on how to get to know God better.

Here is the Keating quote:

The sacred word is not a means of going where you want to go.
It simply affirms and directs your intention
to consent To God’s Presence and Action.
The Sacred Word fosters a favorable atmosphere
For the development of the more general awareness
To which our spiritual nature is attracted.

Our purpose is not to suppress all thoughts which is impossible.
You will normally have a thought after a half a minute or less of inner silence unless the action of God is so powerful that you are absorbed in God.

Centering prayer is not a way of turning on the presence of God.
Rather it is a way of saying, “Here I am.”
The next step is up to God.
It is a way of putting yourself completely at God’s disposal;
It is to submit to God’s intentionality
Which is to give God’s self completely to you.
Keating, OMOH (2005) p.22

I would like to reflect on pieces and parts of this reading:
The sacred word affirms our intention to come to our time of prayer and simply be open and present to God with no agenda. We do not come bearing a laundry list of items for God to handle for us as our butler. We do not come with our projects for God to bless. Rather we come hoping to get to know God better much as we long to develop friendship with someone that we like. We are coming on God’s terms open to where God wants to take us. That is our intention.

We consent to God’s Presence and Action as Mother Mary consented to the angel who announced to her great surprise that the Holy Spirit would bless her with a child. She responded “Let it be done according to God’s will.” So too, we open ourselves to God’s Presence and say “Yes!” to whatever God has in store for us which of course is in our interest and will deepen our relationship. God desires good for us. God desires to heal our wounds and transform us.
The sacred word fosters a favorable atmosphere for a general awareness of the God to which our spiritual nature is attracted. We are made for God. We all have a capacity for God and our hearts are restless until they rest in God. The sacred word and the daily practice of prayer will cultivate a stance of openness. This stance will enable us to open the door and welcome God’s loving, healing therapy so that we may find rest in wordless communion and union with God.

We will still have thoughts. The heart beats and the mind thinks. Thoughts are always present. We want to detach from thoughts. Let them flow though us on the stream of consciousness much like boats float past us on a river. Let them come and go. It is thinking about the thoughts that is a problem. Thoughts can fall to the background much like Muzak in a grocery store.

As we place ourselves at God’s disposal, our spiritual nature is permitted to draw near to God and we may experience a sense of coming home. The Holy Spirit heals our separation and alienation from God.
Or perhaps we may not experience this sensation. God knows what we need. We each receive what is best. Be patient. Wait hopefully. Let yourself be loved. Being loved is God’s will for us. God is giving God’s self to us whether we are aware of it or not.