While talking with the monks much of what they emphasized was cultivating a routine of prayer, they suggested it be done especially in the morning, before doing anything else. Then again at night, that they might be bookends for the day that you can draw on throughout, to center yourself and your thought on that which is Good. 

Having a one year old makes it difficult to find that time right in the morning, but I do go on my morning walks, and I could do a far better job making those more prayerful. Again, I should read the way of the pilgrim.

When I was explaining to Brother Theo the difficulties of finding morning time with a one year old he suggested that I could make the simple mindful interaction and observation of her into a prayerful exercise. 

Indeed that seems very possible. In fact it is something that happens spontaneously when I consider Roby with an open heart, which I try to do as often as possible. Indeed it was that spontaneous worshipfulness at the center of my relationship with Roby that has inspired much of the rest of this prayerfulness. It wasn’t the beginning, that came much earlier, in childhood and was cultivated for years and most fully by Jack, but I think Roby pushed things over the edge into active pursuit. 

She got back this afternoon after visiting her aunt for her cousin’s baby shower. When she first saw me she was a little bit more demure than usual. She still reached out for me, but there was no big smiling greeting. We hungout in the living room and I carried her around and eventually she hugged me, growing warmer and warmer. 

I’m very glad that I get to walk with her tomorrow, and that there isn’t a time we’ll be apart on the horizon.