Be Present in Prayer

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Monday, February 27, 2017

Be Present in Prayer

As I read the short passage this evening from the book How to Sit, I was struck by how much common sense was to be found in this brief reading. “When we have the capacity to be peaceful and joyful as we sit, we can sit anywhere.” [1] Yes, that is correct. The quote says “we can sit anywhere.” That is anywhere, in peace and joy.

When I am anxious or fearful, this is an option for me. When I am angry or jealous or depressed, again—this is an option for me. Being in the present moment, striving after peace and joy.

From what I understand, peace and joy flow into the sitting, and being present. Prayer and meditation are part and parcel of sitting, and being present. This practice is simple, and straight forward. NOT easy, but it is simple. “We are not pulled away by the past, the future, or by anger or jealousy in the present. When we sit like that, we sit as a free person.” [2]

Then, as I sit in prayer and meditation, I am free. I am not bound by strong, difficult emotions. My insides are not tied up in knots, and I can approach the Holy freely. What a gift.

Gracious God, thank You for showing me this option. Thank You for giving me possibilities in this life. Forgive me for disregarding You and Your kindness to me. Help us walk close by You from this day forward. In Jesus’ precious name we all pray, amen.

@chaplaineliza

 

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my companion blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

 

[1] How to Sit, Thich Nhat Hanh. (Berkeley, California: Parallax Press, 2014), 82.

[2] Ibid.

Meditate, Pray, Be Present.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Thursday, January 12, 2017

Meditate, Pray, Be Present.

“The quality of our presence is the most positive element that we can contribute to the world.” [1]

Rushing around and trying to get things done can be counterproductive. If I am striving to rush-rush, hurry-hurry, all the time, I can’t possibly pay full attention to what is right in front of my nose.

I’ve watched people scurry around, like chickens with their heads cut off. People have various motivations. (Money is a powerful motivator. And often, quite necessary. But, that necessary?)

Power and control are two more familiar motivators. Oh, so familiar! And, who wouldn’t want to put “accomplishment!” down as yet another motivator of activities? Of purpose? Of

Even worthy, spiritual people who meditate and pray regularly can be off-kilter in their motivation. As our author says, even super-spiritual people can get off track and act like a person who doesn’t know the first thing about being spiritual. Or meditation. Or prayer.

I know something about the quality of presence. I’ve experienced it. I’ve learned a great deal from chaplain work. There in my interactions, sometimes, I desperately needed to center myself and rely on presence. Less-anxious presence. And, people expressed their gratitude and thanks, if not to me, then in letters sent to the pastoral care department.

The ministry of presence is also useful—sensible—needful—in my current position, as a small church’s pastor. Also, in the other parts of my life. I owe a great deal of thanks to the people in my life who staffed those hospitals and care centers, as well as those who added to my practice in developing the Ministry of Presence. Even though sometimes, it can be difficult, and challenging. Even well nigh impossible.

Thanks to them all. And most of all, thanks to God. Alleluia!

@chaplaineliza

 

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my companion blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] How to Sit, Thich Nhat Hanh. (Berkeley, California: Parallax Press, 2014), 25.

Pray for the Shining of Thy Face

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, October 4, 2015

Pray for the Shining of Thy Face

How refreshing and alive are the words of many expressions of Gaelic Christianity! (Translated into English, of course.) Today’s prayer is about Affirmation. The prayer I chose for today from The Oxford Book of Prayer again deals with “Who art in heaven (Prayer 152, page 58) [1] This is a Gaelic prayer translated by Alistair MacLean.

A quote from this short prayer: “… the dark happenings of my lot hide the shining of my face from me. Yet, if I may hold Thy hand in the darkness, it is enough.” Yes, the prayer is deep and meaningful. I feel it deeply, especially recently.

I have had some run-ins with sin lately. (And, who hasn’t?) However, I was especially feeling my sinfulness during the past few days. Because the happenings of my lot—my life—are sometimes dark and sin-filled, I can’t always tell that I stray from God’s path for me. But, I do. Dear Lord, how I wish I could walk with You more nearly! Love You more dearly!

Yes, it’s all about my yearning to walk with my God.

(I’m taking just a moment to talk a little about my view of God. Between ten and twelve years ago, I discovered I had new difficulty with calling God “my Heavenly Father.” I struggled with my feelings for some time. I even didn’t want to pray the Lord’s Prayer, for months on end. However, I have pretty much come to terms with that difficulty by now.)

Dear God, my Heavenly Father, thank You for coming alongside of me. Thank You for being present with me, even through the darkness. I know it doesn’t matter to You if we are in darkness (since both night and day are the same to You), but often, it matters to me very much. I get scared and uncertain. Thank You for holding my hand. And, yes. It is enough.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] The Oxford Book of Prayer, edited by George Appleton. (New York: Oxford University Press, reissued 2009), 58.

Be Present, O Merciful God

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Be Present, O Merciful God

It’s a good thing God has big ears and can hear a whole lot of people praying at one time. It’s a good thing God is merciful. A number of people I know are crying out to God right now. And, it’s a good thing God is present. I mean, really here. (Or, wherever people need God to be.)

As I read through the Evening Prayer on www.dailyoffice.org tonight, I came to an abrupt halt as I read through one of the collects for the evening. Just before the private, free time of intercession. I have it handy. “Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

The beginning and ending of this section gives me no problems. I can agree with every word—from the first and last parts of the prayer. But God, the part of the prayer that particularly throws me this evening is “we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness.”

Just out of curiosity, I put the sentence above into the search bar on my computer. Lo and behold, I found this, from the Diocese of Mississippi. A notice for a spiritual formation retreat. ‘Life is full of transitions. Some are chosen while others are thrust upon us. Within each of these moments of change and adjustment there come opportunities to encounter God in unique ways. This retreat will provide an occasion to explore the transitional moments in our lives and discover anew the One who abides with us in “external changelessness.”’ [1]

What a thought. God abides with each of us in external changelessness, even while we are going through transitional moments. Yet, we can encounter God at work, at home, in the hospital, even as we travel from place to place.

Each and every moment is so often a transition from one thing to the next. It just so happens that many people in my acquaintance are going through awful things right now. Or, their loved ones are. So difficult to bear. The weight of the knowledge and sometimes even the despair.

Yet, God’s changelessness is so much greater than the transitions you or I or your neighbors or my friends or the people across town or—you get the idea. God is forever the same. Loving, constant, faithful, caring—praise God, we can encounter this God, for real.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Visit the website http://dailyoffice.org/ to find out more about Morning and Evening Prayer!

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] http://www.dioms.org/digital_faith/events/3160983