Skip to main content

Week 2 of Advent

A Different Way to Pray

Many years ago at a retreat, I was introduced to a new way of praying.  Rather than using words, we were led in a series of physical postures:

       Standing, we placed the palms of our hands over our hearts.
       We then lifted our arms overhead, open-palmed.
       Arms still lifted and palms open, we paused.
       Next, we brought our cupped hands back to our hearts.
       Then, we extended our open palms in front of our bodies.
        We closed by again lifting our hands, palms towards the sky.

After familiarizing ourselves with the different postures, we learned the words our movements were meant to communicate:

       Lord, here I am.  palms over hearts
       Today, I offer all that I am to you.  arms lifted, palms open
       I also come in need, Lord.  Will you fill me anew with your spirit?  arms lifted, palms open
       I gratefully receive what you are giving me.  Thank you, Father.  cupped hands to heart
       As I move into this day, I release all that I am, and all that you have given me, to those around me.  arms extended, palms open
        May my very life be an offering that brings glory to you, Lord.  hands lifted, palms to sky

 For the rest of the retreat, we participants gathered each morning.  First, the leaders spoke the prayer while we moved through each motion.  Then, we were invited to cycle through the postures again, silently and at our own pace.

At first, this way of praying felt awkward.  I had always depended on words for talking to God.  Now, rather than hiding behind holy-sounding language, I was using my body--a vessel I knew very well to possess an occasional propensity for saintliness and, more often, a vexing impulse towards sin.  Somehow, this praying with my less-than-holy body made me feel newly exposed--as if long-hidden parts of myself were now being made known to an utter-holy God.

Every morning, despite my misgivings, I stood in that quiet room filled with retreat participants.  Moving through the motions of my own silent prayer.  I watched others do the same--each of us imploring an all-perfect father to use our fallen-but-forgiven souls to accomplish his kingdom purposes in our little corner of the world.  

Eventually, I understood that asking with my body for God to use my body--letting my whole self be fully known--is what allows him to transform frail flesh into the very body of Christ.
-------------------------------
Consider finding a time to cycle through the physical movements above as a way of expressing your heart to God.  Then, reflect on the following questions:
  • What is it like for you to approach God in this way?
  • Are there any parts of yourself--your body, your mind, your emotions, your impulses--that you long to be seen and known more fully?
  • Or, on the other hand, are there any parts of yourself that you fear God seeing and knowing?

If there is a word, phrase, or prayer that conveys your responses, you are welcome to post them here.


You are also invited to listen to the teaching from the second Sunday of Advent at All Souls--A Holy Longing:  Longing for Intimacy.


Here is the devotional for week 3 of Advent.


"A Different Way to Pray" devotional by Anne Lowry Pharr

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 1 of Advent

What do you want? John’s gospel records this question as  Christ’s first words  to   those  who would soon become his disciples (1:38).   It   was an invitation -- not  just  to  pause and   reflect   on  what they  longed  for,  no t  just  to   see  those longings , but to say them  out loud .  With this question, Jesus invited these men to name the desires of their soul—and  not just to anyone, but  to  someone t hey understood to be the very Lamb of God.       Some interpret Christ’s question  as  “’What do you seek?’”    To seek something  means it has value.   If we  seek   something,  it is important enough for us to  put our desire into action, to pursue it.    To   seek something  often   means working .   But   seeking   can  also  in volve  waiting .   In all of our seeking and wanting,   work ing   and   waiting ,  we are hoping.  Sometimes our  hope  is  like  a light that shines, bright and strong .  But t here  may also be  moments—or seasons-- when  shadows  of  disappo
Post a Comment
Read more

Week 3 of Advent

Are You at Home? When you think of the word “home,” what comes to mind?  What makes a place feel like home to you?   Toni Morrison   once said   the most important thing   a parent  can do is   to  allow our   eyes  to light up when a child enters the room.      This simple act-- expressing delight in their presence  through our  body language-- is   an   important way to help our children understand that they have a home in us.    Even as adults ,  our day-to-day interactions influence whether we feel at home in a place, a relationship, a group, or even the world.  Though we are often unaware of this, the people we encounter--their very facial expressions--are giving us information about how others see us and, hence, how we would be wise to see ourselves.  Over time--and especially in our most significant relationships--an understanding of our basic identity is being formed.  We are determining the answer to these questions:  are we seen, valued, cared for?  Most of God's follower
Post a Comment
Read more