Teach Me How to Pray
My brother, Gordon, recently learned how to pray.
Understand, he already knew about the liturgy of the church, about saying a blessing before meals, about how humans turn to prayer as an antidote to illness and death. He was already a loving individual who helped his relatives, friends and neighbors – a man who cleaned up leaves for the neighborhood so it would look nice for everybody, who helped fix things in his widowed sister-in-law’s house, who called his sister (me) every day and reminded her of his love.
But – I believe the Holy Spirit was at work in the person of a Mennonite man, Joe, who came to do some excavating and building in his yard. Gordon is no stranger to hard work; so when labor is done at his house, and he is home, he usually treats the workers to lunch and will often eat the meal with them. As they sat down to lunch each day, Joe asked all to join him in prayer – not a “canned” recitation of grace, but a brief conversation with God. He offered thanks for the good weather, the food, the health of those present and/or connected to those assembled. He asked for guidance, for patience and for wisdom. He shared stories of his family and coworkers, and lived his life as an example of his beliefs.
Gordon was part of this mealtime prayer, and listened and learned that God’s presence was as real as the presence of those workers around him. It was not a fancy exhortation or showy use of oratorical vocabulary – it was a quiet thanks for blessings and request for grace.
Gordon and Susan (my sister-in-law) now talk to God as they sit down to a meal together, sharing the joy of God in the midst of them. They confidently share their experience with all and provide an example of the “real” way to pray. No liturgy, no memorized recitations – “just” a conversation.
“Love God. Love People. Make Disciples” - the mission of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, aptly demonstrated by Joe, Gordon and Susan.
Author: Diane Bechtold
My brother, Gordon, recently learned how to pray.
Understand, he already knew about the liturgy of the church, about saying a blessing before meals, about how humans turn to prayer as an antidote to illness and death. He was already a loving individual who helped his relatives, friends and neighbors – a man who cleaned up leaves for the neighborhood so it would look nice for everybody, who helped fix things in his widowed sister-in-law’s house, who called his sister (me) every day and reminded her of his love.
But – I believe the Holy Spirit was at work in the person of a Mennonite man, Joe, who came to do some excavating and building in his yard. Gordon is no stranger to hard work; so when labor is done at his house, and he is home, he usually treats the workers to lunch and will often eat the meal with them. As they sat down to lunch each day, Joe asked all to join him in prayer – not a “canned” recitation of grace, but a brief conversation with God. He offered thanks for the good weather, the food, the health of those present and/or connected to those assembled. He asked for guidance, for patience and for wisdom. He shared stories of his family and coworkers, and lived his life as an example of his beliefs.
Gordon was part of this mealtime prayer, and listened and learned that God’s presence was as real as the presence of those workers around him. It was not a fancy exhortation or showy use of oratorical vocabulary – it was a quiet thanks for blessings and request for grace.
Gordon and Susan (my sister-in-law) now talk to God as they sit down to a meal together, sharing the joy of God in the midst of them. They confidently share their experience with all and provide an example of the “real” way to pray. No liturgy, no memorized recitations – “just” a conversation.
“Love God. Love People. Make Disciples” - the mission of St. Stephen Lutheran Church, aptly demonstrated by Joe, Gordon and Susan.
Author: Diane Bechtold
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1 comment:
What a special way to learn about prayer and yet how simple. Whether a meal, a class, or a service, each can be a great means for a conversation. I am only learning this art of conversational prayer, and as a tool I am writing down my prayer. It is a step and one that is much easier for me to make.
Thank you Diane for this thought and blog.
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