To do this thou shalt cease for a time from all bodily works, and from all outward business as much as thou canst, then shalt thou draw thy whole thought into thyself from all thy bodily senses, which thou must hold in and restrain from wandering forth, so that thou take no heed of anything thou seest or hearest or feelest, and after this draw in thy thoughts nearer from all imaginations of any bodily deeds done before by thee, or of any other men’s deeds; and this is not difficult to be done at that time when thou hast devotion, but thou must do it also when thou hast no such devotion, and then it will be somewhat difficult. And set thy intent and full purpose, as if thou wouldst not seek nor find anything but only the grace and spiritual presence of Jesus.(John Climacus)

Attention is difficult.

We are creatures of many parts. Our minds are overflowing with hopes, joys, anxieties,and entirely too many instrumental tasks.

To be present to Jesus, to others, even to ourselves is atypical.

But Jesus is only in the present.

Only by anchoring our mind to the here and now can we meet Jesus. In stillness we find that Jesus is already here.