The more you are an ordinary, everyday person, the more en-couraging you will be to others as a teacher of Centering Prayer. Remember Dan, about whom I spoke earlier in this book. Center-ing Prayer is the simple prayer of the people. In the Middle Ages it was taught by uneducated lay brothers working on the farms and sheep runs and in the fairs. It was the prayer of these humble, hardworking men that led to everyday contemplatives and saints.
Love is the important thing.
First of all, the love of God. That is the whole essence of this Prayer, which is a simple and pure gift of self in love to God. And it is love for him that impels us to enter into his desire for intimacy with each and everyone of his children and to do all we can for its fulfillment. The love of Christ impels us. That fullness of love that is compassion enables us to walk with our sisters and brothers in their first efforts and on through, as they seek the Lord within.