Praying isn't mindfulness

Mindfulness is fashionable today as a way to calm down: breathing, emptying the mind, finding balance. Seeking peace is fine, but Christian prayer is something else. It isn't a technique for relaxing or a journey into yourself: it's an encounter with Someone. When a Christian says he's going to spend some time in meditation, that's exactly what he means: praying. Praying is talking with a personal God, who knows you and waits for you. That's why it isn't a monologue with yourself, but a dialogue. And even if you pray alone, you are never alone: you pray united with the whole Church. The difference shows at a deep level. Mindfulness brings you back to yourself; prayer takes you out of yourself toward God and toward others. You don't close your eyes to switch off, but to meet the One who loves you.