Imagine:
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A very
small barefoot man clothed in a faded, tattered brown robe wrapped at the waist
with a rope. Denying himself any opportunity for pleasure, he continually
fasts. His poor nutrition and chronic malaria leave his body a mere shell
of skin and bones. Preferring prayer and solitude (often in caves), his
social interaction is limited to the unusual choice of sharing and caring for
lepers and the other social outcasts in his community.
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Where there is doubt,
let
me sow faith.
How could
anyone meeting this description possibly inspire and draw hundreds of men and
women to join his order with virtually no effort on his part?
I
gained some insight into this phenomenon by studying and exploring his method of
praying. He and his followers practiced "contemplative prayer" (similar
to today's "centering prayer"). Popular in many of the spiritual communities
in his time, its precepts were similar to the meditative practices utilized by
many of today's
great spiritual, artistic and scientific minds.
Francis
believed that practicing the art of clearing his mind of nonproductive noise (which plagues us all), would open
him to
God's subtle messages. God's guidance was not in the form of words as we
might expect. Instead, Francis became aware of how to live creatively in the
"present".
Grant that I may not so much seek to be
understood as to
understand.
By
"quieting" his mind's "shoulds" and "have tos",
he remained sensitive and without bias. Thus he touched everyone
(regardless of their belief or position in life) in an accepting manner.
People felt at peace in his presence.
Continued
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