With the start of the New Year, I reestablished various personal, spiritual, family, and professional priorities and recorded them in my journal. Some are tangible measurable goals (survive paying college costs for my sons!), some refer to daily patterns (write and exercise about an hour a day whenever possible), and some represent more general aspirations (spend more time with the family, stay in touch with my parents, etc.). I realize goals and priorities don’t work for everyone, but they do for me.
The first pages of my journal include reflections on what I hope to work on during the year to come, and the last pages will capture my thoughts and feelings about how those priorities, goals, or hopes have been accomplished, avoided, interrupted, sidelined, or surpassed.
One of my personal spiritual goals for 2010 involves renewing my prayer life and adapting better to a life of prayer while keeping the overwhelming schedule of meetings, speaking engagements, and travel that comes with this work. It’s not that I haven’t had a prayer life; in fact, this particular priority recurs almost every year in my journal in some form. It’s that my practice of prayer requires continued learning, reminders, protection, intentionality, development, and reflection.
As often happens when I express an intention in my journal, my recording of the aspiration heightens my awareness of the topic and I begin to notice various people who address what’s on my mind with uncanny timeliness. Such was the case with prayer. I had just finished recording my reflections on prayer for the year to come when I listened to a podcast (Speaking of Faith from American Public Radio with Krista Tippett) while taking a walk in the new year’s cold. This particular program included an interview with Roberta Bondi, retired professor from Candler School of Theology, speaking about prayer.
Dr. Bondi’s reflections were extensive and helpful as she spoke of ancient forms and traditions of prayer. Two particular practical remarks remained with me. First, no matter what your reason for starting prayer, it’s a good reason.
I like the simplicity of that. Some people approach prayer for the first time or return to it after a season of neglect because of personal need or a sense of desperation and others because of curiosity or a desire for experimentation. Some because of loneliness, and others because of thankfulness. Some at the invitation of friends, and others on their own. Some as a last resort, and others as a first step. Whatever your reason for tasting or testing the spiritual life, it’s good enough.
Second, Dr. Bondi reminded listeners that there isn’t any one right way to pray. Some people use written forms from ancient days and others appreciate poetic contemporary expressions or daily written devotions. Some prefer no written or prescribed content and appreciate personal, spontaneous expressions. There are as many approaches to prayer as there are temperaments of people. If you try a style or mode of prayer and it simply doesn’t fit you or speak to you, let it go and try something else.
Dr. Bondi mentioned that sometimes prayer is just a matter of showing up! Sometimes prayer involves no words at all; rather it involves merely inviting God to be with us. Some prayers require focused and concentrated time devoted to God, and other forms of prayer involve a more casual inviting of God into the daily dialogue of living. Sometimes our relationship with God is comforting and sustaining, and other times it is tumultuous and difficult, as the wrestling and nagging examples from scripture remind us.
How has your prayer life been during the past year? How has your practice of prayer changed and evolved? Will you join me as we aspire to a renewed life of prayer that fits your life context in this new year? How will you learn more about prayer?
Yours in Christ,
rs
1. Nancy Mossman wrote on 1/12/2010 10:20:03 AM
Prayer has preoccupied me this year and last year too. Usually the proccumpation is feeling like I'm not praying enough. Richard Foster helped me understand that the object is not to pray, but to be connected to God's life and to be a part of God's life. My need is to believe that I'm involved with God's purpose each day. Prayer especially helps me believe that.
I always appreciate your thoughts and observations, Robert. Have a great day!
2. Jenny wrote on 1/12/2010 10:22:37 AM
I love hearing that any reason that brought you to prayer is a good one. I've heard so often that we shouldn't go to God with a laundry list of things that we need but I usually do have a list. I do usually go to God with my needs and that of others. Plus I'm not that good with words and hope that God hears my heart in addition to my words. Thank you for your inspiration.
3. Susan Jespersen wrote on 1/12/2010 10:26:07 AM
Dr. Bondi was a keynote speaker at a recent Church Busines Administrator conference I attended. I too was encouraged and inspired by her comment to just "show-up." Simple but profound. Thank you for sharing.
4. Debbie Deneke wrote on 1/12/2010 10:51:39 AM
I will pass this on to the chairperson of our prayer committee.
5. Richard Morey wrote on 1/12/2010 12:34:19 PM
Thank you, Bishop. Your comments have led me to realize that as I listen to Christian music I am inviting God in. It is one of the ways I pray. How grace-full to be able to drop some of the guilt of "not praying enough".
6. Michael Pope wrote on 1/13/2010 1:16:16 PM
I like the notion expressed by the hymn title: Prayer is the Soul's Sincere Desire. Praying for me is both a necessity and a joy; Praying for me is both formal and informal. I especially enjoy praying with and for others. I also like knowing that prayer is the posture of our lives before God so that our whole life and living can become our prayer to God.
7. Susan wrote on 1/15/2010 7:06:45 PM
Thank you for modeling for our pastors and laypersons what it means to be a person of prayer.
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