Again, Holy Week is behind us and a week of the world has begun. As our Easter "alleluias" echo and fade through carpools and meetings and daily tasks, I hope we can each find a few moments now to reflect on our continuing, constant relationship with God and our vital practice of prayer.
Our reflection could center on our ways and times of prayer alone and with others. It could include a review of the elements of prayer - adoration and praise; confession and truth-telling, thanksgiving and awareness; supplication and requests. Our reflection could include another reading of the words of Jesus concerning prayer, Matthew 6:5-14. Here we read Jesus' words on the attitude of prayer and the words of the prayer he taught. Our reflection could include a resolve for a new prayer schedule or place or posture. It could include the current and the ancient, a prayer time at dawn or dusk or a prayer time gazing at the changing sky or at a favorite tree. This resolve could include teaching the children in our lives the prayers of our childhood or writing new prayers, prayer motions or songs with them.
Our reflection could include the broad perspective of this quote from Anne Lamott shared during a Super Soul Sunday appearance:
Let's just say prayer is communication from our hearts to the great mystery...; to the animating energy of love we are sometimes bold enough to believe in; to something unimaginably big, and not us.
Prayer is our opportunity to spend time in the vast reality of God's love and will. Our prayers can hold our hopes and fears, our questions, our expressions of humility and gratitude, of desperation and trust. Our prayers can fill the time from Easter to Easter through all a year may mean.
To end, a prayer simple and complete; a prayer for all times and places; a prayer shared by a friend and again now with all of you.
Dear God . . .
Your will . . .
Nothing more . . .
Nothing less . . .
Nothing else . . .
Amen
Blessings,
Sandy
