Prayer means many things to many people. Prayer in a simplistic form might just mean asking for things. Those things could range from the mundane (a parking place) to the most serious (saving the life of a loved one in peril). Prayer can be seen as religious duty, as a way of centering oneself, as a form of listening, a way of seeking direction and wisdom. Prayer has, in many traditions, been considered a way of preparing oneself. If we enter into something called prayer, what is it that we are are preparing ourselves for? Are we preparing for the day, for a big event at work, for a family dynamic that we expect to be difficult or demanding? Are we preparing for a life transition, changes in a job, a relationship, a move of house? Here are some really helpful instructions for praying:
It doesn’t have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch
a few words together and don’t try
to make them elaborate, this isn’t
a contest but the doorway
into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.*
Bob Patrick
*”Praying” by Mary Oliver, in Thirst
Love this!! So poignant.. short and very meaningful!!