Living Prayerfully
A book Claudia picked up on Kindle a while ago has elbowed its way into my morning reading times. Titled, A Year of Living Prayerfully: How a Curious Traveler Met the Pope, Walked on Coals, Danced with Rabbis, and Revived His Prayer Life, by Jared Brock. Written in a semi-comedic way, this Canadian and his wife spent a year meeting with a very, very wide variety of folks, listening and asking questions about prayer in their experience.
I’m only a third of the way through the book, and so far they have spent time in Brooklyn with Hassidic Rabbis, on to Jerusalem and the religious sights and people there, next to the Orthodox heartland of Mt. Athos, and I just finished their journey to Italy where they first explored the life and places of St. Francis of Assisi, the couple then met, serendipitously, with Pope Francis in the Vatican. Each encounter is framed by a simple set of questions revolving around the meaning and practice of prayer to the person, and then seeing where the conversations lead from there and what can be learned.
Here is an interesting tidbit from the book about how the Pope prays throughout his day:
While I didn’t get a chance to confirm it, Pope Francis is said to have invented a prayer technique many years before he became the pontiff. It’s called the Five-Finger Prayer, and you use the fingers on your hand to track who and what to pray for. Here’s how it works: The thumb is the closest finger to you. So start praying for those who are closest to you. They are the persons easiest to remember. To pray for our dear ones is a “sweet obligation.” The next finger is the index. Pray for those who teach you, instruct you, and heal you. They need the support and wisdom to show direction to others. Always keep them in your prayers. The following finger is the tallest. It reminds us of our leaders, the governors and those who have authority. They need God’s guidance. The fourth finger is the ring finger. Even though it may surprise you, it is our weakest finger. It should remind us to pray for the weakest, the sick, or those plagued by problems. They need your prayers. And finally we have our smallest finger, the smallest of all. Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. When you are done praying for the other four groups, you will be able to see your own needs but in the proper perspective, and also you will be able to pray for your own needs in a better way.
Father Alfred (I like this guy!), the Pope's aide who shepherded the couple in the Vatican, answered their query as to what prayer means to him, and responded quietly, "Prayer is me opening my heart and soul to God." How simple. How profound. I often go through life making my spiritual walk, including prayer, way too cluttered and clumsy.
It sure seems that prayer comes more easily to some than to others, but one commonality is the need for reminders. Francis uses his hand. At Mt. Athos, the monks pray the Jesus prayer multiple times a day and tie it to breathing. On the inhale, they pray, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God” and on the exhale, “Have mercy on me, a sinner.” Orthodox will often wear a beaded or knotted bracelet the monks call a Komboskini as a reminder to pray and to keep from being distracted. Another technique. I’d be interested to know what has worked for you to not get so wrapped up in a day to miss the chance to pray through it.
I have friends who spend much time in structured prayer times and who keep journals of their journey. Others who appear to have vibrant Jesus-walks live at the other end of the spectrum and pray all day as they go along, slinging brief “arrow prayers” to the heavens as people and situations come to mind. As for me, probably due to some impulsiveness in my makeup, I’m a little bit of this and a smidge of that.
Maybe Father Alfred (what a name!) has nailed the essence of prayer, and Francis provides enough structure to provide a worthwhile frame from which to “open my heart and soul to God.”
Whatever works for you, work it. Prayer reminds me that this is God’s world, he is Father and we live as blessed and flawed children. It brings to mind the universal order of operations, where I am not first. Like any parent/child relationship, communication is key to a healthy family. No child gets all they ask for but is encouraged to ask nonetheless. The wise parent does what is best in the larger picture and many times chooses not to explain or justify.
So, friend, today … open your heart and soul to God. Possibly, invest more than a moment to look at one of your hands, and quickly, quietly follow Francis as he prays through his digits. Find your own version of a komboskini to use as a reminder to include in the midst of your day the God who loved you and who rescued you and who adopted you as his own child and who has prepared a place for you to be with him forever.
But whatever you do, pray.
Your friend who still struggles with prayer, Alfred.
"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you."
Augustine
And now...music
Funnies are good for the soul...and the smile
A second-grade teacher, explaining the concept of rules, asked the students what rules their parents might give before taking them to a nice restaurant.
The first child offered: "Don't play with your food"
The second said: "Use your inside voice"
The third piped up: "Order something cheap"
__________
Four-year-old Johnny was eating a hot dog when he dropped it on the floor.
He quickly picked it up and was about to take another bite when his mom said, "No, Johnny, you can't eat that now it has germs."
Johnny pondered the thought a moment and replied, "Jesus, germs, and Santa Claus - that's all I ever hear about and I haven't seen one of 'em yet!"
__________
...and a bonus thought (free of charge)
YOU WILL NEVER BE SORRY...
..for thinking before acting.
..for hearing before judging.
..for forgiving your enemies.
..for being candid and frank.
..for helping a fallen brother.
..for being honest in business.
..for thinking before speaking.
..for being loyal to your church.
..for standing by your principles.
..for closing your ears to gossip.
..for bridling a slanderous tongue.
..for harboring pure thoughts.
..for sympathizing with the afflicted.
..for being courteous and kind to all.