Beginning to Pray

One of the potential dangers of the Daily Office is the will's role in it. We "will" to pray--which can be too strong and actually dampen the effects of the prayer leading to pride over the fact that we DID pray.

This is why it is a great idea to open the Office with a moment of silence in a sense of contemplation and humility. In contemplation we lift our hearts in humble love to God without any deliberate flow of thoughts or words--it's good to take a couple breaths and pause just a few moments. Here we surrender control; here we blunt the ego; here we enter the dance of prayer without trying to be the "lead" dancer--we come to him who is Almighty and All in All. And he's smiling that we've come... 

Now begin with that opening verse.