Prayer
The word prayer, the practice of something called prayer, has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Whether in the context of a religious service, as a way of letting someone know that one’s energy would be focused on their pain or illness or new beginning, the word prayer is a frequent visitor to my mind and something which is articulated by my mouth. Yet, when I stopped to think about my adult concept of prayer, I am hard pressed to define what I mean by the word. I can certainly say what it is not. It is no longer the concept of a chatting with this bigger than life father figure who was ready to not only keep track of all the rules/laws I broke in thought, word and deed but also ready to dispense justice which was always in the form of punishment.
While listening to the March 30, 2017 conversation between Krista Tippett ad Kayli Long Soldier, poet, teacher, mother and a member of the Lakota tribe and nation, I was intrigued by what she had to say about prayer “being central to an ability to enact, even to take…” She also says of the community at Standing Rock, “…how firm that community has been on keeping prayer as central to everything they do.”
What she said certainly resonated with me and yet, once again, when I tried to define what it was that was resonating I was at a loss for words.
The Oxford Dictionary was not much help. It says of the term prayer:
1.1 A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to Go or an object of worship.
1.2 A religious service, especially a regular one, at which people gather in order to pray together.
1.3 An earnest hope or wish.
I was at a 12-step program the other day where it is their tradition to end the group therapy with saying the Serenity Prayer together. Most 12-step meetings open and close their meeting with a prayer; usually the Serenity Prayer or the Lord’s Prayer.
The 12-step program talks about a God of one’s understanding. Other traditions talk about Allah, Buddha, Elohim, I am, or any of a host of terms. In certain cultures the medical team gathers around a sick person and focuses all their positive energy on destroying the tumor or another invasive disease of the patient. Just this morning I signed a note to a friend whose mother is very ill with “love and prayers.” In my mind, I was imagining the sick person and sending waves of love energy through the thousands of miles of space which separates us.
Scientific studies suggest that prayer is effective in healing emotional and physical wounds. Scientific studies also suggest that negative energy is detrimental to the health of an individual, a family or a community. We know that living with someone who is emotionally abusive will result in serious health issues. I suspect that all of us have had the experience of coming into a home or another space and tensing up because our body knows that this is not an emotionally safe space.
When I think of prayer I never think about sending negative energy to someone or wishing that something bad will happen to someone to repay them for the “bad” I may think that they have caused. Usually, my prayer for the person who has caused harm to others is “bless them.” I think of the prayer of Jesus, “Bless them for they know not what they do.” Along with this thought is frequently the thought that I have hurt others by commission or omission. Then my prayer may also be, “Forgive me and allow me to be more present and intentional.” At those times, I am thinking of clearing out the distractions or letting go of the internal distractions which keep me from being more aware of how my thoughts and actions affect others.
When I think of prayer I also think of restoring or bringing about a “natural” balance or harmony in the world. In my mind, any type of violence or anything at all which interrupts the synchrony of the world, an individual body, a family or a community is harmful. My prayer is that the I do my part to remove that “something.”
The sum total of the harmony or the synchronized universe is that force, energy or “being” which is to be sought or yearned for. Is this God, higher power, Allah, Buddha or something else which eludes my limited ability to envision? I have no idea but I do know that I will continue to find that quiet, focused place which allows me to direct my positive thoughts and energy to healing/spiritual growth/loving.
Prayer is love or an attempt to embrace both that which is seen and that which is unseen. Prayer is that little child who when asked how much she/he loves you opens their arms wide and says, “This much.”
Written April 1, 2017
The word prayer, the practice of something called prayer, has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Whether in the context of a religious service, as a way of letting someone know that one’s energy would be focused on their pain or illness or new beginning, the word prayer is a frequent visitor to my mind and something which is articulated by my mouth. Yet, when I stopped to think about my adult concept of prayer, I am hard pressed to define what I mean by the word. I can certainly say what it is not. It is no longer the concept of a chatting with this bigger than life father figure who was ready to not only keep track of all the rules/laws I broke in thought, word and deed but also ready to dispense justice which was always in the form of punishment.
While listening to the March 30, 2017 conversation between Krista Tippett ad Kayli Long Soldier, poet, teacher, mother and a member of the Lakota tribe and nation, I was intrigued by what she had to say about prayer “being central to an ability to enact, even to take…” She also says of the community at Standing Rock, “…how firm that community has been on keeping prayer as central to everything they do.”
What she said certainly resonated with me and yet, once again, when I tried to define what it was that was resonating I was at a loss for words.
The Oxford Dictionary was not much help. It says of the term prayer:
1.1 A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to Go or an object of worship.
1.2 A religious service, especially a regular one, at which people gather in order to pray together.
1.3 An earnest hope or wish.
I was at a 12-step program the other day where it is their tradition to end the group therapy with saying the Serenity Prayer together. Most 12-step meetings open and close their meeting with a prayer; usually the Serenity Prayer or the Lord’s Prayer.
The 12-step program talks about a God of one’s understanding. Other traditions talk about Allah, Buddha, Elohim, I am, or any of a host of terms. In certain cultures the medical team gathers around a sick person and focuses all their positive energy on destroying the tumor or another invasive disease of the patient. Just this morning I signed a note to a friend whose mother is very ill with “love and prayers.” In my mind, I was imagining the sick person and sending waves of love energy through the thousands of miles of space which separates us.
Scientific studies suggest that prayer is effective in healing emotional and physical wounds. Scientific studies also suggest that negative energy is detrimental to the health of an individual, a family or a community. We know that living with someone who is emotionally abusive will result in serious health issues. I suspect that all of us have had the experience of coming into a home or another space and tensing up because our body knows that this is not an emotionally safe space.
When I think of prayer I never think about sending negative energy to someone or wishing that something bad will happen to someone to repay them for the “bad” I may think that they have caused. Usually, my prayer for the person who has caused harm to others is “bless them.” I think of the prayer of Jesus, “Bless them for they know not what they do.” Along with this thought is frequently the thought that I have hurt others by commission or omission. Then my prayer may also be, “Forgive me and allow me to be more present and intentional.” At those times, I am thinking of clearing out the distractions or letting go of the internal distractions which keep me from being more aware of how my thoughts and actions affect others.
When I think of prayer I also think of restoring or bringing about a “natural” balance or harmony in the world. In my mind, any type of violence or anything at all which interrupts the synchrony of the world, an individual body, a family or a community is harmful. My prayer is that the I do my part to remove that “something.”
The sum total of the harmony or the synchronized universe is that force, energy or “being” which is to be sought or yearned for. Is this God, higher power, Allah, Buddha or something else which eludes my limited ability to envision? I have no idea but I do know that I will continue to find that quiet, focused place which allows me to direct my positive thoughts and energy to healing/spiritual growth/loving.
Prayer is love or an attempt to embrace both that which is seen and that which is unseen. Prayer is that little child who when asked how much she/he loves you opens their arms wide and says, “This much.”
Written April 1, 2017
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