Prayer shenanigans

Luke 11:1
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

Lord I love those times of solitude

when there is peace

and quiet

Perhaps on a beach

or in my special place of prayer

Those times

when I sense you close at hand

 when I can hear your voice

feel your nudging 

or just wallow in your presence

I love too those times

in the midst of noise

on a busy commuter train
with earbuds in
using a prayer app on my phone 
when you speak into the buzz all around.

Or, some days, on a crowded city street

you allow me to catch glimpses

of your Spirit

as she dodges around folk

who have their heads down

fretting about the night just past

or intent on the day to come

I love to see her

dancing her way

through the evening crowd

wearily trudging their way home

or in high spirits

intent on a good night out

And I give thanks

that you are in all of life.

You allowed those around you

to see you at prayer

and they liked what they saw - 

enough to ask: Teach us to pray 

So often the prayer that we put on display

is formal, prescribed, lacking in joy

unattractive to others

a caricature of all

that you suggested prayer should not be

Lord, Teach us to pray

with boldness

with exuberance

with laughter

and with tears

and may our prayer shenanigans

encourage others

to want to learn

how to pray 

May it be so...