On a Monday afternoon walking in the woods, or a Tuesday morning watching a sunrise that, due to Daylight Savings Time, comes a “clock-hour” earlier than last week, prayers show up. On a Saturday, perhaps hearing about a neighbor’s illness, or on a Sunday at church, hearing of someone’s new grandchild, prayers show up. Sometimes by our own bidding, “I want to remember to pray for… .” Sometimes as the Holy Spirit brings someone or some situation to mind. Sometimes because fear or joy bump into us.
Some prayers form from our own words, spoken anew. At times, we renew our relationship with God in centuries-old prayers like “…hallowed be thy name.” Our own prayers may become the prayer another speaks. The words of prayer we hear another say may fit our circumstances so well that they become our prayer.
This Sunday, with many other churches across the country, Trinity in Hovland will be including such a prayer. It isn’t about a single issue, family or person. It is not about the election our nation has been preparing for; it isn’t about some new situation that has developed. It is about plights common to daily life across thousands of years, reflects our scripture readings for this Sunday, and was written over two years ago for the worship leader guide “Sundays and Seasons 2016.”
Here is the prayer:
For those who hunger or
thirst, for those who doubt
or are terrified,
for those who suffer in body,
mind, or spirit,
and for caregivers,
that all experience the
healing and comfort
given through Christ…
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Back in my late 40s, when I found myself moving from doubt to believing in God, it took me a long time to feel I could pray. Fear of saying or even thinking “wrong words” or “wrong sentiments” kept prayers at bay. Words didn’t seem to come to mind that made sense. But the Holy Spirit kept finding ways, and people, to let me see prayer in many forms.
About 15 years ago, my friend Audrey in Duluth said, “Prayer? I never know how to pray, so I often end up with just one or two words.” Then with bowed head, folded hands, and a pause before speaking she reverently prayed. “Jane.” And after a long pause, “El Salvador.” And after another span of time, “family peace.”
Audrey, who thought she didn’t know how to pray, prayed. And then I, too, began to find a word here, a word there, gradually beginning to trust God with my prayers, however stumbling I felt them to be. From Audrey I was able to borrow a way to pray; from others, I have been able to borrow prayers, such as the one above, that give me words reminding me of God’s presence.
This Sunday there will be this and other prayers, written long ago by others. And there will be new prayers, spoken or silent. With them, we will be in reverent prayer, and will also be learning again that God provides prayer and prayers for the life circumstances of all — and provides the healing and comfort of Christ, given at times to us through others. At times, to others, through us, and often, to us, through words of prayers given us by God.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month our contributor is Pastor Kris Garey, Trinity Lutheran Church, Hovland.
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