Monday Benediction
on prayer
We’re in the season of Lent. Well, we have been, since Valentine’s Day. I am feeling the same kind of unmoored that I felt during Advent. As you may know, our family is not attending church right now, and while I am ok with that most of the time, I confess that without the check-in a weekly Sunday gathering offers, my observance of the season feels…off.
So, I’ve hesitated to say much about it, and we’ve turned the corner into March, and I was sort of thinking maybe the time has passed. But you know, Lent is not a time for all-of-nothing thinking, and there are still three weeks until Easter, so I’m leaning in.
The Lenten season traditionally emphasizes three practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In that vein, I’ll offer three Monday benedictions between now and Easter, related to those three practices. This week, prayer.
A benediction for Monday, March 11, 2024:
May we come to the practice of prayer with a renewed imagination. May we not feel stymied by or stuck within what we’ve always done. May we come to see every spiritual practice as part of our prayer lives—this ongoing conversation with God’s spirit. Within and around, quiet and aloud, in our hearts and with our mouths, scribbled and spoken—it all counts.
“Prayer is not primarily saying words or thinking thoughts. It is, rather, a life stance. It’s a way of living in the Presence, living in awareness of the Presence, and even of enjoying the Presence.” —Richard Rohr
“Like a plant that has become pot-bound, its roots searching for nutrients that have long since been used up, the human soul gets to the point when it is ready for a more spacious way to pray, one that provides room for the mystery of growth in intimacy with God and more depth for the roots to sink into.” —Ruth Haley Barton
Grace and peace,
Lindsey
Wow I love the imagery in the quote about feeling like a root-bound plant. Thanks for sharing that!