Dear Friends,
Inspired by a quote from Imani Perry (you can listen to an interview with Krista Tippett here), the JYM Retreat’s theme this past weekend was Living as a Prayer. We spent some time sharing what we know prayer to be, what it feels like, how it can open us to different ways of seeing, sensing, and holding people and concerns. We often talk about prayer being peaceful, or filled with gratitude, even wonder. Could being in prayer, though, help while dealing with situations or individuals whom we find to be annoying or hard? What might shift if we had prayer goggles we could slip on?
I shared with the group that intentionally trying to be present to that of God—one description of prayer—is helpful while I’m interacting with some people. I see them differently. I have more compassion and more humor. It’s been essential, too, for holding myself, as a white person, in moments and situations where I’m listening to feedback on my racism and listening to the anger and trauma of Black and Indigenous people and people of color. In that more open-hearted place of prayer, I am less defensive and more honest. I learn more.
We had a great time on Saturday morning making our goggles out of the ten pipe-cleaners included in the mailed retreat packages, and some of the children made good connections on the idea of prayer in action.
But since the retreat, I’ve been thinking about those glasses. If they were really a thing, they’d have to include a warning: Living as a prayer may lead to spirit-led action. I think of the stories of so many people of deep faith who unexpectedly found themselves doing something they never really envisioned doing —from a place of prayer. And then finding themselves praying even more because, well, there they were, in this new and uncomfortable place—really needing their tap root/grounding/God for courage and reassurance that being uncomfortable is different from being in danger. Help, please.
What if all of us had prayer goggles within our reach that held us in this place of prayer even as we were going about our days? How might we stretch? Soften? Reconcile? Grow?
The fine print on Prayer Goggles might read: Caution! In addition to experiences of compassion, forgiveness, peace, and new friendships, being open to that of God throughout your day may take you to insights into your own biases or complicity in oppression, to step into bystander interventions you would never before have considered, into social justice activism, into speaking truth, and even to saying "no thank you’" to some invitations or requests that suddenly no longer seem faithful. Wear at your own risk and joy.
Sending you much love, and ten pipe cleaners,
Gretchen