Prayer

 Now that the holy Days are over, some reflections on prayer.

Prayer takes many forms.  

There are those who ask for something, e.g., healing, prosperity, joy…  Some praise (G-d is beneficent, forgiving, loving…)  Others are gratitude (for breath, companionship, eyesight, clothes…). 

For many, prayer is disjoint and cumbersome.  It is difficult to gather thoughts in an organized fashion (I think this is what some people mean when they say they do not like “organized religion.”  They wait for inspiration when it comes, not getting it from formal prayer).  

Some experience moments of impoverishment and appeal to Something that will alleviate the anguish.  Or a moment might jar us to an inner sense of wondrous thankfulness.  Each is a time of deep reflection and prayer, but they tend to be sporadic.

What did you pray for on the Yamim Noraim, Days of Awe?  

I want to make two suggestions for those who are searching for a connection to prayer.  

Ø One is silence.

There is much noise in our surroundings and in our heads.  We are constantly barraged by our cell phones (I call my phone a dog leash.  When it rings it demands a response, no matter where I am or what I am doing), messages that chime at all times of the day and night, music and news that relentlessly blares, traffic, sounds of construction, and the noise of the mind of things left undone that does not let up.  

When was the last time you sat quietly with all devices turned off and away from all distractions?  Prayer comes in those silences.

Elie Wiesel tells Rebbe Mendel the Taciturn who sat, with eyes closed, face turned toward Jerusalem in a fiery sanctuary as he listened to the song of silence – “a celestial and yet tangible silence in which both voices and moments attain mortality.” 

Ø The other suggestion is practiced gratitude. 

It was one of the first lessons that our parents taught us: Say “please” and “thank you.”  We do not like people who do not express appreciation.  We call them in-grates.  Those who tell us how appreciative they are for the hello, the birthday message or present fills us with joy.

Reb Zusya was the ultimate teacher of knowing how to be grateful.

Whatever he had, Zusya gave away. There were always poor whose needs far outstripped his personal needs. There were times when Zusya did not even have enough to eat. That is why he said, "for those who say I have nothing, they are correct." Yet, at the same time Zusya also acknowledged that if someone were to ask what he needed, Zusya would tell him or her he had everything he required.

Zusya taught his acolytes through his actions.  He was deeply grateful for whatever he had and was happy to share whatever little he possessed with others who had less.

 

We are the richest civilization that ever lived.  We have so much that what we discard would be a cornucopia of delights to previous generations.  Yet, our faith reminds us that such things like food, clothes, air, or a roof over our heads, cannot be taken for granted.  In fact, the first prayers we utter each morning in our ritual services thanks the Almighty for each one of these and more.  Often the best segue into a modality of prayer is expressing thanks like saying thanks for food or expressing gratitude for being alive each morning.