By Rob Lord

Meditation Garden, Encinitas, CA., January 27, 2015

What has been the most significant catalyst of growth and change in my Christian journey? How would you answer that question? As Fr. Henri Nouwen said so well: “Without silence it is virtually impossible to grow spiritually.”

Silence, and the practice of centering prayer meditation, is for me, the most reliable spiritual practice that helps me pay attention to God, and to fight the incessant distractions of life in this world. And science continues to discover the emotionally healthy benefits of a meditation practice: it literally changes our brains.

Research with Buddhists and Christian monks has demonstrated conclusively how the practice of silence transforms the neurochemistry of the brain. Why? Silence was always meant to be part of Gods’ plan for transformation of our lives. As the Psalmist says: For God alone my soul in silence waits; from him comes my wholeness, my salvation. Ps 62:1

Studies of people doing meditation showed that after only eight weeks, a 12 minute a day practice changed the brain pretty significantly. But the more you keep working on that change, probably the more change you will see. It is like a muscle, the more you work out, the bigger it becomes.

Consider these findings from – Newberg M.D., Andrew; Mark Robert Waldman. How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist

• If you contemplate God long enough, something surprising happens in the brain.    Neural functioning begins to change.

• Different circuits become activated, while others become deactivated. New dendrites are formed, new synaptic connections are made, and the brain becomes more sensitive to subtle realms of experience. Perceptions alter, beliefs begin to change, and if God has meaning for you, then God becomes neurologically real.

• Spiritual practices, even when stripped of religious beliefs, enhance the neural functioning of the brain in ways that improve physical and emotional health. Contemplative practices strengthen a specific neurological circuit that generates peacefulness, social awareness, and compassion for others.

Conclusion: we have to strengthen the muscle of attentiveness or it will atrophy. Paying attention to God is what centering prayer, silence, meditation is all about. I am convinced it leads to “below the surface” growth, healing, and Christlike love.

With you on the Journey,
Rob+