Orthopraxy Prayer
OK, so this is just about turning into Maya's blog instead of mine. But I can't resist sharing another of her bedtime prayers. It speaks to the practice of communing kids when they are baptized. We encounter our risen Lord and grow into this experience -- not learn about him until we're qualified to meet him.
Every night I ask her what she would like to pray about. Her answers used to be predictable, like thank you for mommy. But now she wants to pray about crazy things. I've fought the urge to correct her answers, to suggest something more meaningful. So I just go with the flow. And now I've realized that when she wants to pray for her door, her window, her ceiling, daddy's nose, and all this crazy stuff, what she's doing is giving thanks to God for the first thing that she sees. She just opens her eyes, and knows that God has everything to do with whatever is in front of her. Her prayers begin with this simple mundane observation of an ordinary object then grow into an awareness of God connected to every basic element of life.
Here's her prayer from tonight:
2 comments:
I'd say something about this, but I already did on your previous blog, "learning to pray."
We're standing in the way of powerful moments of faith when we turn the Eucharist (THE GIVING THANKS MEAL!!!) into something else.
So I wrestle with myself...to maintain unity I pass by those children holding out their hands. And for those kids who look absolutely numb (they just stare off into space because they know this meal is not for them, not right now!!) at the table because they know they can't receive anything, I confess to Jesus that I've prevented him from coming to them. I'm sorry Jesus!!
Of course, I do say a blessing for everyone who doesn't get the bread/wine. At first, the kids just didn't like my finger making the sign of the cross on their forehead. I was messing up their hair!!
But, for some, they have come to look at me with anticipation and joy as they get something special that their parents don't receive.
Still, though, I don't think it compares to what happens through the ordinary elements and the presence of Jesus in them.
Keep on praying, Maya!! And keep sharing your prayers with the world!!
Hey Paul (and Kevan),
Been lurking here for a while...
I became a "heart" convert to early communion during internship (my theological "head" was there long before) when I taught a first communion to pre-schoolers.
I now commune everyone, and the great joy two weeks ago was when the baby I baptized the first Sunday I was here looked at me, smiled, and held out her hand. Bingo!
Maya's got it just right.
Hope you all are well...
Jen
Post a Comment