Mystic Musings: Lent 3/10
“The result of prayer is life. Prayer irrigates the earth and life.”
St. Francis of Assisi, 13th century Catholic saint and mystic
Photo by Naassom Azevedo @naassomz1
I admit that I am not much of a prayer—at least in the traditional and conventional sense. I will pray before a meal if my dinner mates require it. But that feels like prayer as an obligation rather than a position of the heart. And, of course, as a minister I have written hundreds of prayers for corporate worship. I did relish praying on behalf of a community as it gave me an opportunity to express out loud the deep yearnings that I was intuitively picking up from my congregation. But, in my individual life I am not much of a prayer.
The reason, however, is not that I dismiss its effectiveness. It is not that at all. It’s just that I have found that prayer seems to be most effective when it is an orientation on life rather than a set aside religious practice. The Apostle Paul writes, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5: 17). Of course, that is impossible if we only see prayer as that time when we are kneeling on our knees with our eyes closed and our hands folded. Paul’s type of prayer points to a prayerful life rather than praying as an activity.
Photo by Oskar Miodzinski @oscarfoto
I like this line by St. Francis of Assisi because he speaks of prayer as if it is one of the basic elements of life—like breath, food and water. “Prayer irrigates the earth and life.” Without it we dry up. Without we cannot grow. Without it we run around desperately searching for nourishment.
Prayers are good. The trick is to go from set prayers to “praying without ceasing.” The trick is to discover the kind of prayers that aren’t just petitions for tomorrow’s answers, but are actual nourishment for your heart and life today.
Sit quietly. Breathe deeply. Become aware that you are entering into prayer simply in the act of quieting outside distractions and allowing for a deeper communion with life. Ponder these questions slowly and quietly allowing them to seep deeply into your body.
What does your body and soul most yearn for right now?
What needs to be released from your body (In other words, what do you need to give to God?)
Can you find a peaceful place within your body, heart and soul?
If so, how can you take that with you throughout your day?
Say the words “pray without ceasing” repeatedly. What feelings emerge in your body?