What is prayer? For some of us prayer is what the minister does in worship on a Sunday morning. For others, prayer is something incorporated into the week between Sunday services. Brother Lawrence, a 17th century monk, suggested that prayer can never be contained in rote forms and rituals. Instead, prayer is being aware of God’s presence in all of life. But in the busy-ness of life how can we become more aware of God presence?
Author Tricia McCary Rhodes offers ways to develop our awareness of God in her book, Sacred Chaos: Spiritual Disciplines for the Life you Have. Rather than looking for perfect peaceful moments to commune with God she suggests imbedding God in our normal chaos.
One suggestion she offers is to try a 1 minute experiment. Find a 1 minute moment here and there to connect with God. How? Schedule a few 1 minute moments in your day, perhaps first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Set your watch alarm for 2 or 3 times a day to ‘beep’ and remind you to offer a brief prayer. Set your computer screen to send you a message to pray. Write out a prayer and tape it to your bathroom mirror or fridge. Tie a reminder ribbon to your watch and offer a prayer each time you see it.
But what do we say when we pray? Keep It Simple Supplicants (KISS) offer a few words of thanks for whatever is happening at that moment, or offer a request to deal with that moment in a healthy way. Or, sit in silence open to the presence of God in that time and place. Or, carry a prayer with you to recite as a mantra, such as the following:
Living God, creator of all
Open my eyes to beauty
Open my mind to wonder
Open my ears to others
Open my heart to you.
However or whatever we pray, we can be assured that God is already present and attentive.
Shalom,
Abigail
For more on prayer, check out our “Praying in Colour” theme for week four of July: http://www.beachunitedchurch.com/Content/10457/216870.pdf
or check out the previous weeks if you haven’t seen them: http://www.beachunitedchurch.com/10457/ministry/ministry_id/215078/Season_of_Summer__Praying_in_Colour
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