Distractions As A Lack Of Love

One writer says that one reason why it is so easy to be distracted in contemplative prayer is because our mind actively works in order to bring us into God's presence through consciously disposing us toward that goal, and that after that it has no real job and so becomes engaged in other, distractive, self-generated thoughts. To an extent this might be true of some people. But in actual fact, leaving the door of the mind ajar is more of a failure to love than anything else. Most religious people greatly fear these distractions, which in reality are nothing to fear, their content notwithstanding. In reality there is no real danger in these phantasms, frustrating as they may be. These thoughts will most certainly not be cured by the torture of our souls through either mental or physical chastisement, which most times only manages to amplify and make these projections worse. At best these confounding scripts themselves should serve to remind us of who we are and that it is of no use to try and simply clear your mind of these distractions by noticing them, much less of giving them a voice by allowing them to name themselves. But it is the memory of the unfailing assurance of God's loving presence that is simply able to fully centre our hearts upon God, who is, and to realize that in spite of whatever is going on in your head, God's presence and your ability to directly experience it does not depend on your thoughts at all. God is unfailingly present. This is the only anchor that we need, and once you experience that, then you have all of the resources that you require to be off and running.