Do you ever become frustrated while reading stories about Jesus?
I certainly do. For almost my entire life.
For example, they tell us that Jesus often went off by himself to pray.
Sometimes the writers tell us about what happened. Like in the wilderness when he was tempted. Did Jesus tell that story while sitting around the campfire in the evenings?
He dropped only a couple of recorded tidbits on us.
He observed two people praying at the Temple. One loud and ostentatious. The other quiet and withdrawn. He told us to be like the second one. Pray in private, humbly.
When his closest followers didn’t know what words to use, he gave them an outline that my tradition calls the Lord’s Prayer and other call the Our Father. I like that one, because it reminds me of things I need to remember.
Other traditions teach sitting and breath and focus. The Christian practice of meditation stretches all the way back to the beginning.
But we only have about Jesus was that he withdrew to be alone. Even Paul, who had a deep spiritual experience and meditated on it for years, gave us no real instruction on the practice.
Sometimes I wish for something beyond metaphor and glimpses. Just come right out and tell us.
I guess there is a reason. Someday I will know it.
Faith Venture 
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