Prayer and Blessing

Preparation

Start with silence; real silence, in which you take the time to let the accumulated voices of the day exit your mind. Focus on your breathing.

You can sit, stand, or walk, but keep your back straight so your breathing is not constricted.

If you are sitting or standing, you may shut your eyes, but be watchful, if sitting, you might fall asleep. When walking, focus on the ground about three feet in front of you. If your vision distracts you, pull something over your head (a scarf or shawl) so your peripheral vision is restricted. You can imagine that as you enfold yourself in the scarf, you are enfolding yourself in prayer.[1]

Breathe: listen to your breath until your mind stops racing around.

Imagine the Presence of the Holy Spirit encompassing and embracing you.

Breathe in the Spirit of God; let the Spirit of God breathe back out to you.

Open your heart to blessing. When we say “Bless we the Lord,” we are saying we offer to be open to the presence of Jesus Christ in such a way that compassionate blessings flow from Him through us and out into our neighborhood and the world. “Thanks be to God!”

Praying

Now you begin to pray. These are the forms of prayer:

c    Adoration

o       We adore God for His majesty displayed in the works of nature around us.

o       We adore God for the witness of others. Tibetans greet each other by saying Namaste, which is to say: “I acknowledge the divinity within you.”

o       We adore God for the Word we have received, in Scripture and in our lives.

c    Confession

o       We confess those things we know went wrong

o       We hand our wrongdoing over to Jesus. Envision yourself handing a sack full of sorrow into His hands. See Him smiling.

o       We accept our shortcomings, and seek strength in the Spirit to overcome them.

o       We are joyful in the knowledge that our sins are forgiven. We are free to be the People of God!

c   Thanksgiving

o       Thank God for at least 10 things in your world this day, for example:

§         Your significant other

§         Children, yours and the worlds

§         Sunshine, clouds, snow, (Rochester weather!)

§         A momentarily empty in-box

§         Coffee!

c    Supplication

o       We pray for those we know to be in need

§         From our parish

§         From our communities of contact

§         For ourselves

o       We pray for the people we pass on the street…each one, as moved by the Spirit.

o       We pray for trees, shrubs, flowers and animals we pass along the way

o       We pray for the businesses being carried out

o       We pray for protection for those driving by

o       We pray for the education of children on school routes

Even if you don't vocalize, move your lips; the act of speaking helps keep your thoughts from wandering. Be open to the direction of the Holy Spirit; again, in whatever form that comes.

More to come….

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