A proposition for your consideration: If prayer is what makes us human, then what stands between us and a prayerful life is dehumanizing. So, what gets in the way of prayer for you? Meanwhile, here's a little Griz for the mill:
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
To Be Human?
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6 comments:
My own self interest. I don't like the discipline, the habit or practice of prayer. I find that life today is so busied with "stuff" - running errands, work, even social life - that we fail to find the rhythm of holiness. We get caught up in other things that we fail to sit down, slow down, take time out to listen, to focus our attention on talking and sharing with God.
I know I NEED to slow down and listen.
James once again...What gets in the way of prayer for me is humanity -- the requirements of our human existance: the emotions that come with being human, the time requirements, the physical feelings of tiredness or elation. Our humanness drives us to live our lives, and that drive is not usually toward God, unless we grab the wheel and force it in that direction. I wish I had more moments to feel more spiritual. But spring/summer is coming and the garden is starting to grow and such moments often create themselves there. I am hopeful. (Despite the rabbits/squirrels eating my crocuses.)
James, thanks for the explanation...so that is what happened to my crocuses!!!
Dehumanizing...what is dehumanizing and squelching my spiritual growth?
The answer is simple: I am. I am paying attention to the tugs and pulls on my everyday life and being caught up in the business and "busyness" of work and errands. It is a choice and perhaps an avoidance to attempt a deep connection with my soul/spirit through prayer and other means of connecting. These actions are dehumanizing. I am acting like an automaton--following a prescribed routine and attitude. I could blame society or the DC way of life, but it wouldn't matter where I lived. It is my choice to disconnect from self. It does take time and effort to connect, but oh so worth it. Ahhhh, time to pray, to tweak the attitude, to sew, to paint, to listen to music, to walk, to enjoy a sip of tea, to enjoy the moment--to humanize.
I guess I believe that nothing gets in the way ... At this point in my life, I seem to be able to make myself stop and take inventory of who i am, where I am and what I'm doing ... whenever I want/need to ... setting aside time on Sunday mornings(church, sunday school) is good to 'remind' me to do this. Maybe I'm lucky ... there were times in my life when I didnt feel like I had this freedom ...
I'm getting in the way of prayer. I don't take enough time out to do it...look at what I just said...'I don't take enough time out'...how horrible is that?! I shouldn't think that way, but I do. It's as if I have to take time out of my day when that time should be integrated into my day. I shouldn't have to make 'special' time, it should be my way of life.
Anyway...I get in the way of my own oneness with God. I realize there's time involved and I allow life to get in my way. I allow all the buzzing around me to sweep me away and then I forget.
I have learned that I forget a LOT. I know the tenents of Scripture, I know what the Lord wants me to do, but when the time comes I forget. I forget to think nice thoughts. I forget to be thankful and not whiny. I forget to pray in times when I should be...when I need to be. I get in the way of my own true humanity, the humanity the God intended for all of us. I feel that true humanity only when I take the time to remember and to pray.
the previous response was from Bryan :)
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