Phenomenology of Prayer I

The 1st chapter about praying with a decentered self makes a lot of sense to me especially with the references to the bible, prayers and concepts I had learned in private school when I was little. "The still-centered self might consider confession available in terms of a cost-benefit analysis. . . the decentered self need not dent these considerations in order to confess differently, but only to do so in a different posture. . .The self that has begun the kenotic journey prays for forgiveness in order, above all, to be more deeply decentered" (Benson, 26). At first this concept was a little confusing to me but after further reading I understood what this meant. One that is confessing with a centered self is looking for something in return for their humility. Perhaps hoping for a clean conscience or ticket to heaven on judgement day. But those who confess with a decentered self are looking for nothing in return for their humility. The only thing they ask for is forgiveness from God and to decenter themselves to a deeper level to be more at God's disposal.