Spiritual Direction

 A friend gave me three little books to read by David Torkington: The Hermit, The Prophet, The Mystic.  They are all about "prayer."  

The Hermit is about a priest searching for a better prayer life.  He meets a hermit, Peter Calvay, who helps him.  I'm sure Peter's advice is excellent but sunk in secular muck as I am, I'm more interested in the people, Peter and the priest James Robertson.  

They are all small books--teasers really to bait you to read the next in the series.  And I took the bait, and the hook, and the sinker .  I loved all three.

In The Hermit, Peter gives James a prescription to follow: A Blue-Print For Prayer.

Introduction

     Presence
     Adoration                                                                          We
     Thanksgiving                                                                     Speak
     Examination--for Past                                                       To
     Repentance--for Past                                                          God

Middle

     Learning                                                                            God
     To                                                                                       Speaks
     Listen                                                                                  To Us

End

     Needs                                                                                We
     Others                                                                                Speak
     Self                                                                                     To
     Thanksgiving                                                                      God
     Examination--for Future
     Resolutions--for Future

The next book is The Prophet, where our hero, Peter is rarely a participant.   We read some biographical notes that Peter wrote.  The priest, James was given them to understand where Peter came from, and what made him the religious guru he was.  I learned about secular Franciscans, Saint Francis, and even an encounter to Saint Padre Pio.  I learned that prayer doesn't change situations or people, only the prayer's own heart.  

The last book is The Mystic where Father James thinks he is losing his faith, only to become a mystic. I found Father's charismatic prayer group experiences familiar.  And Peter's explanations about love in married life, experienced by his parents, similar to the spiritual journey of prayer.  People are interested, fall in love, get busy with life, fall in love again and reach deep contentment for life.  The life of prayer mimics these steps.

Again I apologize for not being interested in the prayer advice.  I was too interested in the author's well-drawn characterization.  I know I missed the point, but I enjoyed the books regardless.