Our restless mind, which is the main tool of all human communication, is also the main stumbling block in prayer. It seems to have a natural tendency towards distraction rather than concentration. It prefers to be unrestrained, constantly wandering, seizing every new stimulus and examining it from all sides, instead of focusing its attention in one direction and staying there. It wants to be continually occupied, to work incessantly, to care, to remember, to plan, to construct, to anticipate or to argue, to seek and to question. Even in our attempts at prayer, it assumes the position of God and responds to every request we make, thus playing all roles in the conversation with God.
Sometimes it also flares up with pride, impatience, discontent, bitterness, or hatred when we least want it to. It can feel wounded or offended, guilty or disgusted precisely at the moment when we are almost reaching our goal. Sometimes, in fact very often, we spend the time reserved for prayer trying to control our restless mind, to collect our thoughts, and to focus our attention on God. In such occasions, two things can help us: first, the awareness that God Himself prompted our conversation with Him, as He moved us to set aside time for this prayer, and second, that He appreciates our efforts and blesses them.
(Walter J. Ciszek SJ /1904–1984/, memories of Soviet prison, He leads me, chapter 5)
