May 6, 2013

I have been thinking a lot about prayer lately. Hearing many people say, "I’ll be praying for you" as I anticipated surgery felt like a soothing balm in itself. Reading "Help, Thanks, Wow" by Anne Lamott has been entertaining and helped me think about prayer as well. Her title words are what she calls the three essential prayers (following in the footsteps of such heavy-hitter theologians as Meister Eckhart who said if the only prayer we ever uttered was "thank you", it would be enough). She also includes, in her anecdotes, other prayers. Her fourth essential prayer is "Lord, help me not to be such an ass today". I can relate to that!

What are your essential prayers? Are they spoken or drawn or danced? Are they simple words and phrases or time-worn eloquent words of others? Are they praises or requests? Are they offered at set times or throughout the day and night? Do you pray alone or with others? Out loud or silently? Perhaps you will answer yes to all of these.

It is comforting to know that however and whenever you pray, God hears. And when you feel you don't have the strength to utter a prayer, God uses others to pray with and for you. Help, thanks, wow indeed!

Contributed by Tracie
Monday May 6, 2013
Liturgical Year C: Week 23
Liturgical Color: White
Sunday Gospel reading:
Sixth Sunday of Easter