One day I am going to make a survey of what writers claim is the “most important” spiritual practice. That’s not for today but I suspect I would find prayer, silence and solitude as high on most lists. You might … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Prayer
This Ash Wednesday I have been drawn to a well known prayer of Thomas Merton – My Lord, God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for … Continue reading
This is the time of the year we see so many top 10 lists. You have already seen them: “The Year’s Most Memorable News Stories,” “The Best Films of the Year,” and on and on. I wonder what would happen … Continue reading
For several weeks we have been considering the form or pattern our daily prayer can take. We have thought together about “formal” prayers as found in the Daily Office and liturgy and we have considered a pattern prayer might follow … Continue reading
Over the last several years I have come across a number of references to W. E. Sangster’s book “Teach Me to Pray.” He recommends setting aside at least 15 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening for … Continue reading
I grew up in a tradition that valued spontaneous prayer. It would be accurate to say many in that tradition found little value in written prayers. It would also be accurate to say many found no value in anyone speaking … Continue reading
First, let’s look back to the suggestion from last week about setting an alarm on you phone or watch as a “call to prayer.” Did you try that? If so, what was your experience? Did it annoy you or did … Continue reading
How might you begin to practice fixed hour prayer? You could try what a friend of mine did. He set an alarm on his phone and each day when the alarm sounded, he took a few minutes to stop what … Continue reading
You may hear “fixed hour prayer” or “daily office” or “liturgy of the hours” or “morning prayer/evening prayer” but each speaks to having appointed times during the day and night to pray. It is a regular and consistent pattern of … Continue reading
Some time back a friend pointed me to a practice that combines prayer and a form of journaling. In the book Writing to God: 40 Days of Praying with my Pen Rachel Hackenberg provides writing prompts based on scripture to … Continue reading