Two Stories

1. The early Celtic Christians were especially drawn to the mysticism of St. John's Gospel. Like many, they identified John with the "Beloved Disciple", who is said to have laid his head on Jesus' chest at the Last Supper. Since Jesus is understood to be a physical manifestation of the Godhead, it may be said that John listened to the heartbeat of God. I would say this phrase "listening to the heartbeat of God" is an excellent description of contemplative prayer.




2. This story is more modern. Several years ago, Rev. Newell became friends with a man who grew up in a Hasidic community in "New Joisey". Every year, the man would attend a Jewish summer camp in upstate New York. The man was still fairly young, pre-teens I believe, when this story took place.
   
   The students heard that their beloved Rebbe would be visiting the camp that week. They were very excited, and anxious to meet him. So anxious, in fact, that when they heard he was nearby they ran to meet him. They found the Rebbe standing in a stream, doyaning in prayer. "Look closely," said the Rebbe, "this water that flows at our feet will never pass this way again." The boys joined him in the water and began praying with him — many of them also doing the rocking and bending characteristic of Hasidic prayer.
   
   In time, the sound of the water and the regularity of the rocking put our friend to sleep. He woke sometime later to discover the other boys had gone. The Rebbe remained; in fact, the Rebbe was holding the boy as he himself continued his prayer. When the Rebbe noticed the boy was awake, he looked upon him with a smile. The boy recognized that smile as an expression of God's grace.