One of my regular prayer practices suggests quieting down and noticing what random thoughts my brain generates. Then, the practice suggests, after noticing each one, gently let it go and return to inner quiet. In the Christian tradition, this is part of the tradition of apophatic prayer – prayer without words. What I often notice is how busy and insistent my brain is. My upcoming schedule. Who offended me yesterday. My stomach ache. Is all this really going on in my head all the time? No wonder I’m frantic. The goal is not to reach any special insight, but to clear some space for the God who is beyond words to be present. Especially in these days when painful news is so present, I find it good to notice, to touch, and then, for a time, to let go and find the quiet.