On my way to work is a prayer mile. A low, rustic sign announces in bold, block letters, “Prayer Mile.” One mile later, a second sign announces, “Amen.” The other sides of these signs bear the opposite messages, so that it works both ways. I have decided to observe this prayer mile. At 40 miles per hour, this amounts to a minute and a half, one brief moment as I move from the private world of family to the public world of work; another brief moment as I make the journey home again.
My goal is to rid my head of the monkey mind of the world I am leaving behind so that it doesn’t infect the other. Am I feeling anxious? If so, I focus on one or two actions I can take to improve the situation, vow to set those actions in motion upon my return, and then I lay it to rest. Of course I’m not always successful, but I do find that giving the transition my full attention, if only for 90 seconds, does indeed help.
Anyone can make a prayer mile. Choose a landmark along an oft-traveled path. Drive for a mile and choose a second landmark. The first few weeks, you’ll have to make a conscious effort to observe it, and many times you’ll likely forget, but after a while it will become a habit and you’ll notice it whether you mean to or not. You might simply throw out the names of people you hold in your heart. Or you may intentionally notice something beautiful. Include a word of closure – Amen, Blessed Be, Just Do It. Give it a try and let us know how it goes.
Lorena Griffin
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