In the beginning of the book of Genesis, after creating man and woman, God walks each afternoon with them in the garden of eden. He spends time with them, and they stay close to him. After the tragedy of sin, we hear God ask them a question: "Where are you?" This is a good question for all of us when we are found to have wandered away from God by dabbling in sin.
Our Gospel, which begins, on purpose, with the same words of Genesis ("In the beginning"), also has an echo of that union with God that Adam and Eve enjoyed in the garden, as these disciples also are walking with God (though they do not exactly understand it). Then Jesus, God-in-the-flesh, turns to them with another question "What do you seek? What do you want?"
When God asks questions, it isn't because He doesn't know the answer. It's because we don't know the answer, or we ignore it, or we are lying to ourselves. One way or another, God wants us to look into this truth for a reason, ultimately for our salvation.
THE SEARCH - the book (and accompanying video series) invites us to look at those desires. This question of Jesus is the focus for video one (or ch. 1 of the book) and it is a great starting point for beginning conversations of faith with others you know - family or friends. If you have a good relationship with someone you want to share the faith with, this is a way to get the conversation started.
Examining our desires is a good way to examine our conscience.
It is also a good preparation for prayer.
But if you do it with God, it is prayer.
A simple process for this is to "pray like a pirate" ("Arrr...")
ACKNOWLEDGE - examine your heart and face what you find there. Honesty. Courage.
RELATE - tell God exactly what is going on and perhaps why you think it is there. Trust.
RECEIVE - let Him tell you what He wants you to hear, which might seem unrelated. Openness.
RESPOND - share with God any response: thanks; request; cry for help; petition for others. End with love.
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