Have we really learned to let God lead the way in our prayer lives? It is worth repeating that one of the most difficult aspects of a maturing faith in general, and contemplative practice specifically, is the transition away from expectations and control. Contemplative prayer practices don’t focus on needs, petitions, correct phrases or formulas, or outcomes of any kind (although all of those things are goods and have their place – but perhaps not as central of a place as we tend to give them). Contemplative practices are prayers of trust, surrender, and faith, meaning that we turn our prayer completely over to God and leave whatever outcomes or fruits are to be had to the will of Divine Love. While this total welcoming of whatever comes (or doesn’t come) our way in prayer is simple in concept, it can be difficult in practice. “Prayer” as most of us have learned and understood it still involves a high degree of our own input concerning when, where, how and why we pray. Ironically, this is true even of our contemplative practices. This is why we say that contemplation itself is a gift: only God can initiate contemplation, making contemplation truly and completely beyond our control – which can be scary and exhilarating all at once! Contemplative practice is just us readying ourselves for the gift, learning, gradually, to take our hands off the steering wheel of our lives. God can then decide when, where, and just how fast and how far, we need to go!