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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781497699601 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | CareNotes |
| Publication date: | 11/04/2014 |
| Series: | PrayerStarters |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 35 |
| File size: | 256 KB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
PrayerStarters for Busy People
By Daniel Grippo
Abbey Press
Copyright © 1999 Daniel GrippoAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4976-9960-1
CHAPTER 1
Time-Out!
"How do I pray? I breathe!"
—Thomas Merton
You're busy ... stressed ... overworked. You don't have time to catch up with yourself, much less with God. How could you possibly hope to find time to pray?
Sometimes you just have to stop whatever you're doing. Call a time-out. Catch your breath. Catch up with your spirit. (The words breath and spirit come from the same root—no wonder you need to catch both of them right now!)
PrayerStarters
When life is out of balance and you're feeling kind of crazy, let these two words be your prayer—TIME OUT! Call a time out whenever you're:
Tense
Irritable
Moody
Exhausted
Overworked
Under pressure
Testy
Once you declare a time out, you can share your situation with God. Here's a start:
Dear God, I'm so busy I feel out of control. Help me regain my balance and find my center.
"Gimme Five," Says God
"Make everyday life your prayer."
—Karl Rahner, On Prayer
How do you spend the first five minutes of your day? Here, in this moment between sleep and wake-fulness, is your first prayer opportunity. Before rising to engage the day, you have the opportunity to pause and bring to mind your relationship with God.
You may awake refreshed or groggy, feeling eager and hopeful or fearful and worried about the day ahead. Whatever your condition, let that be the starting point of your prayer this morning.
PrayerStarters
As you prepare to rise, take a moment to praise the Creator. Ask for strength and courage if you feel weak and fearful. Give thanks for your energy if you feel strong. Weak or strong, call to mind the fact that you belong to God.
Before rising, ask yourself what hopes you have for the day. Bring these hopes to God's attention, asking for whatever is required to help you through the day.
Shower With Blessings!
"I used to write 'Prayer' on my calendar, as a reminder to pray regularly. But before long it became so much of a 'technical obligation' for me that I gave up. Now I write 'God' on my calendar."
—unnamed author quoted in A Man's Guide to Prayer by Linus Mundy
The morning ritual of bathing is also a time when we begin to plan our day. We think about what's on the calendar and try to figure out how to get it all done. In the midst of it all, how are we to find time for prayer?
PrayerStarters
Many of us use a hot shower as a way to jump-start the day. Let your shower also jump-start your prayers. Take a moment in the midst of your shower to give thanks for the many blessings showered upon you. Let your prayers rise like steam from a hot shower!
Dear God,
As I begin this new day, I give thanks for your many blessings. Please help me be of service today.
Break the Fast
"The act of putting into your mouth what the earth has grown is perhaps your most direct interaction with the earth."
—Frances Moore Lappé
Our need for food is persistent. We can't go more than a few waking hours without being reminded of this need by our hunger. Yet there is another kind of hunger, a hunger in our souls. Souls, too, need nourishment. Body and soul, we hunger.
Hunger reminds us of our physical dependence on one another (who among us could bring food to the table without assistance?) and our spiritual dependence on a power greater than ourselves to sustain and nurture us. Food for thought!
PrayerStarters
How will you break your fast this morning? A bowl of cereal? A muffin with jam? Anyone for coffee? As you take that first bite or sip, think for a moment how God nourishes you, in mind, body, and spirit.
Do something to help alleviate world hunger today. Write a letter, make a call, send in a donation, drop off some canned goods. Let that be your way of praying for a world without hunger.
Have You Heard the (Good) News?
"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."
—Proverbs 25:25.
Many of us get our first news of the day in the morning, whether by newspaper, television, radio, internet—or all of the above! As you listen to the news of the world—so much of it bad news, sadly—take a moment to reflect on the Good News that Jesus brought. How different is his message from the one we usually hear. How important it is to make room for the Good News amid the strife and division of our world.
PrayerStarters
Pray the headlines. Pray for the healing of divisions, for peace in place of violence, for honesty and integrity in the face of corruption, for justice everywhere.
Feeling overwhelmed by the bad news? It's okay to "turn the world off" for a while and concentrate on the Good News all around you—in nature, in loved ones, within your own spirit.
Think of one way you can bring Good News to someone today. Let that be your prayer for the day.
The Work of Human Hands
Laborare est orare.
To work is to pray.
—Benedictine motto
When we work at something—a job, a hobby, a household chore—we're engaged in a process of transformation. We're taking one thing and changing it into something new. Although the fruits of our labor are not always immediately visible, our hope is that we have made some improvement along the way.
Transformation is God's own work. We imitate God when we work. We become co-creators, collaborators, associates in the good work of creation.
PrayerStarters
As you pick up your tasks for the day—whether at home, in an office, in a school—think of the ways in which you honor God through your work. Realize that your work is a form of prayer.
As you face the day's challenges, if you feel overwhelmed, let this be your prayer:
Dear God,
Help me to transform problems into possibilities. Help me to see my own role, however humble, as being essential to the unfolding of creation today.
Rest With Me Awhile
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
—Matthew 11:28
It is important to keep work in balance. Laboring without rest is not good. Moments of refreshment also need to be part of the work day.
Not only does rest refresh, it is also essential to creativity. Some of our most original ideas come to us while we're daydreaming. Leave time in your day for some dreaming!
PrayerStarters
Take a moment to pause from your labors. Enjoy a cup of your favorite beverage, look out the window, take a few deep breaths. As you exhale, whisper a word of thanks to the Creator for giving you energy and life and work to be about.
If you are physically unable to break away from your labors, think of a favorite vacation spot. Go there in your mind until you feel a smile on your face. Let that smile be your prayer this morning.
Reach for the Heavens at High Noon
Beauty is before me.
And beauty is behind me.
Above and below me hovers the beautiful.
I am surrounded by it.
I am immersed in it....
The beautiful trail.
—Navajo prayer
High noon is the moment when the sun reaches its zenith in the sky, the moment when the day is full. As you become aware of the fullness of the day, become aware of the fullness and beauty of God's creation all around you. Think about what brings fullness to your own life.
PrayerStarters
Go for a noon-time walk today. Drink in the beauty and variety of creation in the fullness of the day. Ponder your wishes and dreams. Where do you find your greatest fulfillment? When and where is your day full, complete, at its zenith?
God encourages your highest aspirations. May you, too, reach your zenith!
Dear God,
Help me to know, and to fulfill, your highest aspirations for me.
Help me to lead a full and fulfilling life.
God—Let's Do Lunch!
Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry.
—John Wesley
In many cultures, the noon meal is the main meal of the day. Such a meal, with its several courses, functions to slow the day down—a respite between rounds, a pause, a retreat, a time to collect your thoughts.
Imitate the tradition. Take a little extra time with the noon meal today. Don't rush through it. The more rushed you feel, the more you need time to slow down. Is there a way to be busy without feeling hurried?
PrayerStarters
As you enjoy each course of a full meal—beverage, appetizer, soup, salad, entrée, dessert—say a short prayer of thanks within yourself. Thank God for the many ways in which you are nourished by the fruits of the earth.
If you're feeling isolated, or spend a lot of time working alone or at home, plan a lunch out with a friend. Use the time to share with each other what's going on in your lives. Let this sharing be your prayer today.
Afternoon Delight
Laughter is the beginning of prayer.
—Reinhold Niebuhr
A busy afternoon can wear down the body and the spirit, cause us to feel stressed and disoriented. That's why it's important to make sure every afternoon has a moment of delight.
When we laugh, we release stress and worry, and we connect with one another. We affirm our belief that life is indeed good, despite its burdens and imperfections. Indeed, a laugh is a profound statement of faith and hope!
PrayerStarters
This afternoon, take time for a laugh, a shared joke with a friend or coworker, a phone call to a friend or relative.
Find a way to bring a smile to someone's face this afternoon. Surprise that person with a kind word or gesture, a thoughtful act, a small gift, a witty phrase.
Let humor and a generous spirit be your prayers this afternoon.
Live in the Moment
To ... hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.
—William Blake
Deadlines loom, the pressure is on. What to do? If we only had more time ...
The truth is, we have all the time there is. There's no way to create more of it, so the question becomes: How will we best utilize the time we have?
Spiritual leaders through the ages have taught that the best approach is to practice living fully in the present moment.
PrayerStarters
When you're feeling most rushed on a busy afternoon, take three minutes for yourself. Close the door, take the phone off the hook, and empty your mind of all distractions. Repeat to yourself: I have all the time there is!
Now, practice living in the moment. Allow yourself to be absorbed by the task at hand—that can be your prayer today. Stay rooted in the present and the future will take care of itself.
Commuting With God
"Learn how to pray in the streets or in the country.... waiting for a bus or riding in a train."
—Thomas Merton
Whether your commute is ten minutes or two hours, by car, train, bus, or even plane, take an opportunity to spend some of that time communing as well as commuting.
What does it mean to commune with God? It involves quieting down, listening for the silence behind the many sounds that surround you, searching for the quiet voice of God in your heart.
PrayerStarters
Try reserving just five minutes of each commute for prayer, for "communing while you commute." If you work at home, talk a five-minute "communing walk" when your day is ended.
Use a favorite prayer from your faith tradition, or a prayer you've written yourself. Talk with God about what's going on in your life, or listen for God's quiet voice behind all the sound and motion of rush hour.
Just being aware that you are in God's presence is prayer enough.
A Spirited Workout
"I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life."
—Theodore Roosevelt
Do you make time in your day for exercise? A jog or brisk walk, a trip to the health club or neighborhood pool, a good game of tennis or a bike ride—physical activity of whatever kind is a great stress buster, especially important for busy folks. Exercise can renew and restore energy, maintain good health, and reduce stress.
The words health and heal come from the same root, meaning "to make whole." Use exercise to help make your day whole—and holy.
PrayerStarters
Joggers and walkers often use a mantra—a word or brief phrase, repeated over and over—as a form of prayer. It can be a phrase as simple as "God is Love" or "Lord, have mercy." Find a word or phrase that works for you and try it out for a couple of weeks.
Turn a problem over to God during your workout. Ask God to help the two of you work it out together.
Ponder God's strength as you exercise. Think of your workout as a way of building and storing strength for times of adversity.
Messages From God
"And none will hear the postman's knock Without a quickening of the heart."
—W. H. Auden
What's in the mail today? As we prepare to get the mail, there is a moment of anticipation, of hope. Good news, perhaps? A note from a good friend or relative? A check we've been waiting for? An interesting magazine?
There may also be anxiety mixed in—especially in times of financial distress or illness. Is that bill from the hospital going to arrive today? What will I do if it does?
Above all, the mailbox represents possibility—a place where God is likely to be found.
PrayerStarters
As you prepare to pick up the day's mail (at the mailbox or online), focus on the feelings you are experiencing. These feelings are your prayer at this moment: hope, anxiety, curiosity, anticipation—all are possible. And possibility is what God is all about.
As you reach for your mail, raise your hopes and fears to the God of possibility. Remember, God "knows what you need before you ask...." (Matthew 6:8)
Kitchen Prayer
"Do you want to pray? Slow down! Eat your peas one by one."
—Ed Hayes, Pray All Ways
The kitchen is the place where meals are made, aromas created, warmth generated. It is a place where we generate fuel for our bodies, but also a place that can feed the soul.
When you find yourself preparing a meal, consider the ways in which you are imitating God by doing so. You are nourishing others, as God nourishes you. Take time to "relish" your special role!
PrayerStarters
Savor the aromas that fill your kitchen as you cook. Examine the ingredients you are using to make something that hasn't existed before. As you create something new, you are engaging in God's handiwork.
By participating in the act of cooking, you are doing God's work. You are nurturing life. There could be no higher calling.
Ponder the image of God as a cook—fixing a meal to nourish loved ones.
Chanting Through Chores
To sing is to pray twice.
—St. Augustine
Many evenings, no sooner is the meal done than chores begin. There are plates to wash, dry, and put away; trash to take out; laundry to be done. Kids have homework, adults have yard work or unfinished business from the office. There's always that pesky home repair waiting to be done, too.
Is the busy day never over? Is there a way to make the burden lighter? Is there a way to drive away weariness? There is—it's called song!
PrayerStarters
While doing chores, try using a chant or a simple, repetitive song to drive away weariness and fill the moment with awareness of the divine.
Humming, whistling, and singing have been used for ages to help people get through tedious chores. Use a prayer or church song learned while young. Let your vocal chords do the praying for you, or enjoy a favorite tune on the radio or stereo as you finish the day's work.
Divine Dessert
"L' chaim! To Life!"
—Jewish Toast
Why do we love dessert? It's not really a question of hunger—the main meal can generally satisfy that, and an extra piece of bread would serve as well as anything if dessert were really about hunger. No, dessert moves beyond hunger into celebration.
Dessert is that moment in the day when we say, Enough! The work is done, the daily quota has been met—now let us celebrate the goodness and abundance of life. So lift your dessert fork with a prayer—To Life!
PrayerStarters
Give yourself a treat tonight, for having finished a day's labors. Take delight in your dessert, whether you choose to reward yourself with a bowl of ice cream, a home-made cookie, popcorn, a piece of candy, or a low-fat substitute for any of the above. It's the idea that counts. You deserve a little reward, and your "just desserts" can also be a prayer of thanksgiving.
Dear God,
As we reward ourselves for finishing our day's work, we thank you for the work accomplished, the lessons learned, the sweet love shared.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from PrayerStarters for Busy People by Daniel Grippo. Copyright © 1999 Daniel Grippo. Excerpted by permission of Abbey Press.
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