Life of Prayer
By: Jim Hunter
“One morning, when it was just us, I blurted out, “I’m not much of a prayer guy.” Jesus was quite but I knew I had his full attention. “I mean, I pray but mostly because I feel like I ought to. I run out of things to say. My mind wanders, and I get distracted. And, I’m sorry, but I just don’t feel anything, I get bored.
“Like I said, not much of a prayer guy.”
“Wanna be?” (The Samaritan’s Friend, page 28)
The Lord’s Prayer, The Jesus Prayer, breath prayer, prompted prayer, extemporaneous prayer, be still and know, prayer walks, morning devotions, vespers, compline, intercession, praise,“help me,” gratitude, listen, pour it all out, “wow,” ACTS, confession, conversational, collect, praying the hours, pray at the stop light, chant, sing, dance, pray while washing dishes, ancient prayers, “What’s up?,” “Thou who art,” saying grace, praying in secret, praying in unison, just talk, be sure to listen, contemplative prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep.”
Often we view Lent as a time to “work on our prayer life,” but, oh my, where to start? Perhaps, before we start working, it would be good to remember that our prayer life is just that—it’s a life. It’s not so much doing this or saying that as it’s a way of living. The apostle Paul said it this way, “In God, we live and move and have our being.”
A few years ago, I heard a bashful young woman confess to a wise nun that she wasn’t sure how to pray. The nun took her hands, looked into her anxious face, and said, “Dear one, if you’re breathing, you’re praying.” It’s life. The invitation is not so much to do it as it is to become aware of it.
With that in mind, receive this blessing as you begin your work:
Where to start?
Anywhere.
When to start?
Now.
How to start?
Take the first step. Say the first word.
Breathe.
Knowing that you are welcome.
Knowing that you already started.
You started right here. Right now. A while back.
You’re breathing. You’re praying.
The Spirit smiles like your best friend smiles when she sees you coming.