August 28 – Nanoseconds of Grace
Moments of pure prayer are like openings in the clouds: brief, fleeting, but filled with light. James Finley
Gregg’s Reflection
In contemplative prayer, I have learned that silence is not about emptying the mind but consenting to God’s presence. My thoughts still come and go, sometimes in torrents. But in the tiny space between thoughts—what feels like a nanosecond—grace often appears. These flashes are not of my own making; they are gifts. As soon as you notice them, they disappear.
I used to think I had to hold onto these moments, to stretch them out or reproduce them. But grace cannot be forced. It slips in unexpectedly, like sunlight breaking through the clouds. My role is not to create the light but to keep showing up, open and willing to receive.
Over time, these small moments have become reminders that God’s presence is constant even when I am distracted. Each nanosecond of grace widens my capacity to trust. It is in the surrender, not the grasping, that I discover God is closer than my breath, already within and around me.
Scripture
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.
Psalm 62:5
Ancient Quotes
Prayer is the laying aside of thoughts. It is the opening of the heart to God.
Evagrius Ponticus, Chapters on Prayer
Modern Quotes
Moments of pure prayer are like openings in the clouds: brief, fleeting, but filled with light. We cannot prolong them; we can only give thanks for them.
James Finley, Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God
Moments of God’s presence break in as nanoseconds of grace, because as soon as we realize it is happening it slips away. God cannot be grasped and held.
Mark Ritchie, in a spiritual direction session
Journaling Prompts
- Recall a time when you experienced God’s presence in a fleeting moment. What did it feel like?
- How do you usually respond when distractions come during prayer?
- What might it mean to consent to God’s presence instead of striving to grasp it?
- How can you cultivate more openness to these nanoseconds of grace in daily life?
Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 35 Reflection: Prayer of the Heart