Wednesday, March 12, 2014

PRAYERFUL WAYS

What is your picture of peace? Mine is Baxter sleeping. He assumes many different postures when he is seriously sleeping. Flat on his chin with paws under, curled in a ball with paws over his eyes, on his back with front paws curled and back paws spread, these are some of his sleep positions. In them, he is dead to the world. Nothing easily rouses him —not a loud noise; not a flash of light; not even the familiar sound of the lid opening on his food container. When Baxter is deep in sleep his whole body releases its hold on his daily activities, and he is lost in his own world of dreams. The depth of this state exudes a sense of peace and tranquility that is almost mysterious. He seems present to another dimension of reality. Nothing will call him away from the soundness of his sleep.

Don’t we wish for this kind of deep quiet and peace? Lent is a good time to seek it. Our prayer is our seeking.

Prayer is usually described as a conversation with God. But this common description might keep us from experiencing the full meaning of this encounter with the Holy. In a good conversation we can become very animated and engaged. We want to probe an idea, argue our position, or jab the other person with humor or a challenge. A rousing conversation stimulates thought and energy behind our ideas, and it can allow them to grow and mature in the process. This is one form that prayer can take, and we should utilize it to expand our understanding of God and His ways. But this kind of prayer is only one way to approach God.

We all were taught “our prayers”. The Hail Mary, Our Father, Glory Be, and Act of Contrition are some of the standard formularies we memorized to give voice to our minds and hearts before God. These set prayers are important to know and cherish. They capture key dimensions of how we are related to God garnered from the heart of our Catholic Faith Tradition. They provide us words when we may be at a loss for them. They bring comfort when no other words can. But they are still a busy form of prayer, repeating words from rote and hoping through them to catch a divine favor or a glimpse of insight into God’s presence in our lives.

Maybe it’s time to try something more. Rather than a conversation or a set word formula, pray by sleeping in the Lord. When we sleep, we shun outside stimuli. Dark and quiet are the order of the day. We try to relax. Our bodies help by feeling tired, and then we try to shut off our minds from the business and worries of the day. If we pull this off, we fall asleep, and if we retain this state long enough, we awaken refreshed in body, mind and spirit. A good night’s sleep leads to a good beginning to the day. Let’s use the same measures when we pray.

Seek a quiet and calm environment. Take some deep breaths and get in a comfortable position to relax. Empty our minds of the thoughts and memories of the day. Then seek the Lord like we seek to fall asleep when we are tired. We may discover a whole new dimension to meeting God in prayer—a deeper and more peaceful dimension. God comes to us in this prayer without any words or new ideas, just with the loving presence of the divine life. Rest in this presence. Soak it in and let it hold our attention without defining it. This is the Holy Mystery, and we are part of it in faith.

Baxter sleeps about twelve hours a day. Not all of this time is spent in deep, absorbed sleep. Some is taken in cat naps with eyes half open. But together, all these forms of sleep sustain and refresh him. All the forms of prayer can do the same for our lives. Lent is a time to use them all to grow closer to God. There is nothing like a good night’s sleep to refresh us. Likewise, there is nothing like a good period of prayer to renew us. Sleep well and pray well.