Teach Me To Pray
My muscles ached with it. My neck was tight with it. My heart felt heavy with it. As I stepped onto my yoga mat my heart turned with it. Unrest.
The world's unrest came rushing at me.
I carried it around in my muscles. No, deeper! It's in my very bones.
There is no peace on earth. There is no rest on earth.
There is unrest in my own life and in my own heart. There is unrest in the relationships around me. But there is unspeakable unrest in the world, and on this day my thoughts turned to the Middle East.
As the rising sun hit my face I longed for Sabbath. For rest. For peace.
Peace for us all.
I pressed my hands together in front of my heart and wondered, "How do I pray for such pressing needs?"
How do I pray for those who are being tortured and persecuted?
"Lord, teach us to pray," the disciples asked.
My heart asked the same.
Lord, teach me to pray when peace is lacking on all sides.
As my body began to move to the simple rhythm of familiar sun salutations, my heart began to pray.
Our Father...
You are my father. You are their father.
Who art in heaven...
Whether it feels like it or not, you are in heaven, on your throne. You do reign.
Hallowed be your name...
You are set apart and holy. Your ways are not our ways.
Your kingdom come...
Let your kingdom break into their lives, our lives, the whole world.
Your will be done...
Not my will, but your will be done, Lord.
On earth as it is in heaven...
Bridge the vast difference between our world and heaven, and bring your peace here on earth.
Give us this day our daily bread...
Meet their needs. Meet my needs. Meet our needs.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us...
May forgiveness be the wind that carries the oppressed to victory over their oppressors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil...
Plant our feet firmly that we might not fall to temptation or evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.
Amen.
Amen. Rejoicing in the journey, Bethany