Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Prayers - a rhythm to get with


Been thinking about prayer, again – still!!

Prayer is one of those things we do, and often tell ourselves we should do it more. Some even confess, “While I kinda don’t believe in God, I said a prayer, just in case.” As this is already the middle of January, I won’t even suggest you make prayer a New Year’s resolution, too late for that now; especially if you’ve already broken enough of your NY resolutions! So I’m thinking about another aspect of prayer and 2010.

In music, rhythm is the ordered flow of the music through time, or the pattern of durations in notes and silences in music. One isolated beat does not make a rhythm, that’s a sound, but neither does silence – silence comes between notes. It’s just like that with prayer and prayers. Prayer is rhythm, rhythmic and offers an infinite variety of rhythms.

Prayer is something we grow in, grow by and grow with. As with music there are more people who develop musical appreciation, than those who attain any level of proficiency in music’s performance skills. Musical appreciation is something many grow in, grow by and grow with. So too with prayer and prayers - we grow in our prayer appreciation.

The rhythms of music are enjoyed or experienced in private or personal settings and public ones; so too prayer and prayers.

Praying, talking to and listening to God are life-practices we can engage in personally/privately at any time, any where; just like those times when a rhythm drops into your head, you hum and even add the words. You pick up rhythm and melody by yourself; you are alive in the music. Praying can be the same. Through and building on known prayers, both childhood and adult ones like; "When in the morning light I wake, show me the path of love to take" or “Our Father in heaven ...” which can serve as a rhythm dropping from our heads into our hearts, as we say the words and add more.

Like music, prayer and prayers are important public concerts ... we know those concerts as church services. When you go to a concert, or “gig” you expect music; when you go to church, expect prayer. We go to public musical events, to hear music and get caught into the rhythm. Enjoying music privately is cool; yet so true the common saying, “there’s nothing like going to a live performance.” Getting caught up with others into the soul of the music, its atmosphere, rhythmic expectations, its renewing and refreshing, we become part of the music. You leave, and the rhythm goes with you, it’s alive in you. It can be just like that with our public prayer and prayers in church. Go along and find out afresh.

Church prayers are liturgical prayers; liturgical prayer is changing prayers in changing seasons. Like concert music the great liturgical prayers are familiar, we hear our Faith in them, and we can catch their rhythm, and discover refreshing through their rhythm catching us.

Why, this week we (you or me) could make the opportunity to get caught up with others into the soul of worship service prayers. Catch their atmosphere, rhythmic expectations, their renewing and refreshing, and become part of the prayer. Leaving the service the rhythm goes with you, it’s alive within you. - JD