Whole Bunch of Prayers

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Whole Bunch of Prayers

Ever feel like prayer requests were falling like a downpour? They sure seem like that to me, right now. More people needing prayers than ordinarily.

I’m used to people talking to me. Telling me things to pray about. Things not just about themselves, but also about their loved ones, their families, their situations. I know—intellectually—that there haven’t been too many more prayer requests lately. Except, some of these requests hit pretty close to home.

Maybe I am close to some of the people who have come to me with prayer requests, lately. I guess it shows that I have feelings. I have a heart.

I need to check in with my accountability partners. That will help. That way, I am taking care of myself. (I am encouraged to seek out self-care, regularly!)

Actually, self-care is a good idea for anyone who is regularly involved with the helping professions.

Dear God, I pray for all those who are on the prayer list. I pray for all those in need of prayer in  my congregation, among my family and friends, and those with unspoken prayer requests.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayers.

@chaplaineliza

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

How to Nourish My Soul? With Love.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Saturday, June 6, 2015

How to Nourish My Soul? With Love.

Growing, nourishing, stretching my soul. All good things to do.

I remember digging in my mother’s garden. Fork up the dirt, turn over the soil, rake until the rich black dirt is prepared for planting. Either plant seeds or replant the vegetable plants. So pretty! So satisfying. Such a memorable feeling.

Just like growing, stretching plants in a garden, so also with my nourished soul. Joan Borysenko mentioned that another way the soul is nourished is when giving and receiving love. Yet a third way is to pull together, in community; what a way to nourish our souls, jointly!

Growth lets me know not only that I am alive, but grief and pain help me understand myself better—or is it more fully?

As Borysenko tells me, in this chapter from Handbook for the Soul, “we can either waste away from our wounds or use them to grow our souls. . . . I have always said that no one heals alone—we heal through and for one another. In Judaism this is referred to as Tikkun Olan, the healing or restoration of the world, a kind of collective soul work.” [1]

Whether separately or together, each of us can care for our souls. I think this is an important aspect to be learned from this chapter. Especially one final way to nourish the soul: self-care, with loving kindness. Taking time, taking care of myself is so important. If I nourish my own internal being, my own soul, I will certainly become a better giver to others.

This self-care, soul-care helps me give more easily, forgive more readily, and love more genuinely. All good things. So, help me, God.

@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] Handbook for the Soul, Richard Carlson and Benjamin Shield, editors. (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1995), 46.

A Daily Examination, or Inventory

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Friday, May 15, 2015

A Daily Examination, or Inventory

I went to a seminar this morning. The topic of the seminar was self-care, which was helpful to me as someone who works with people. Having so much and such intimate contact with others can deplete me, internally. So, self-care is something I must pay close attention to.

Yes, taking time to do beneficial things for myself is a wonderful way to do self-care. However, there is another way of maintaining balance and caring for myself, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually: doing a regular inventory.

I know about this practice. Yes, because I have learned about prayer and meditation, and learned about the spiritual practices involved in spiritual formation. In other words, I have a good introduction to this spiritual side of things. But—I was also thinking about the 12 Steps of the Recovery program. (Specifically Step 10.)

I have a certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling, so I know a few things about the Recovery program. One of the important aspects of the 12 Steps is taking care of one’s shortcomings and mistakes, promptly. In other words, “cleaning my side of the street.” Making sure that there are as few difficulties and mistakes left hanging. I consider this to be an excellent way of dealing with fear, anxiety and resentment, and I have recommended a regular Step 10 to a number of people over the years.

Under the general topic of Ignatian prayer and meditation comes something very similar to the Step 10 inventory: the Daily Examen, or examination of one’s own spiritual state at the end of the day. Perhaps I ought to simply show a brief form of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced.

1.     Become aware of God’s presence.
   2. Review the day with gratitude.
   3. Pay attention to your emotions.
   4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
   5. Look toward tomorrow. [1]

I will be looking more closely at this way of praying and taking inventory in the next few days. I am looking forward to it! God willing, I hope and pray that it will be fruitful in my life. Stay tuned.

@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 sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .

[1] http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen (A service of Loyola Press.)