About prayer¶
Prayer versus superstition¶
Some people cannot pray because they believe that it is a form of superstition. To illustrate this belief, here are some jokes made by such people: The rock in Tim’s backyard.
So here is my first advise: praying doesn’t change the reality around you, it changes your perception of reality.
Next advice: Your world view is like your native language, you can’t change it at will. There will always be people with a magical world view, who believe that God will create a free parking space for them when they need it, maybe simply because they grew up without scientific education. Rather than laughing at these people, try to be grateful for the diversity of expressions of the human spirit.
Training your skill of seeing the hope¶
Praying is training for your skill of seeing the hope. It helps to avoid despair and depression.
A relaxation technique¶
By Doenertier82, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Praying is the opposite of working. It is a relaxation technique. It helps to protect you against burnout. It helps you to “get out of the hamster wheel”.
Getting out of the hamster wheel is theoretically easy: simply reserve some time for yourself.
Relaxation techniques: Breath control helps quell errant stress response
No time for prayer?¶
When I invite people to come to some prayer meeting, they usually answer with a more or less direct variant of “I am overwhelmed with projects and appointments! Why would I add yet another meeting to my calendar?”
I have at least three prayer meetings per week in my calendar. When I add the time I spend for transportation, that’s more than one man-day per week. And I don’t miss this time because these hours give me back more energy than they require.
Check how much time you spend for entertainment. The entertainment industry wants you. And they are the most efficient and wily time thieves in the world. When you manage to reserve some time for yourself, you usually spend it for useless experiences that only pretend to get you out of the hamster wheel. I am often amazed to see how much money and energy people are willing to invest into relaxing. The cheapest and most efficient way to relax is a prayer meeting. I have no proof for this claim.
Glossary¶
- to pray¶
To speak with God as a child speaks with her father or mother. You tell God about your observations and emotions, you listen what he answers, and you do your best to play your personal role in God’s divine plan.
- prayer¶
A spiritual practice that includes any form of communicating with God. It can express as meditation, reading, speaking, singing, dancing, walking, painting, writing, building and others. Prayer can be practised individually or in groups.
Quotes¶
“You will never enjoy the sweetness of a quite prayer unless you shut your mind to all worldly desires and temporal affairs.” – St. Norbert of Xanten (1075–1134)
“We should always pray as if acting was useless, and act as if prayer wasn’t enough” – Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897)
Social training¶
Praying is social training. It helps to open your mind and your heart for the people around you.