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An extremely controversial method for tonight, as I know many don't believe praying in tongues is real while others assume that it is a gift that all must have to show the spirit's presence in their lives. Some are angry when they hear people talking of praying in tongues (let alone hearing someone use it) whilst others get very excited. I have a complicated view myself, but I know that I find the gift immensely useful for when I can't think of the words to say and when I worry that deep prayer is required for a specific situation.
I used to use it all the time when I was younger, particularly when I was walking along some less than savourable streets in London alone when commuting, though tend to use it less often now, and have rarely used it when I know someone else is listening as I know how off-putting it can be. If anyone is reading my blog in the hope of finding some new methods for prayer, please forgive me for tonight's entry as I know that not all can, nor even should, use tongues as it is not for everyone.
I use it tonight as I could do with the cognitive space I feel praying in tongues gives me to converse with God. And generally, when I start praying in tongues, I'm translating my thoughts into a language I don't know so well, but one with which I can get carried away into a fascinating monologue to God. A bit like someone learning a new and exotic language that captivates them completely, I suppose.
So this is something I like to do when I go on a retreat (at Beuno's, Spring Harvest or somewhere with a well-stocked art room) and was the craft for REInspired yesterday (the theology in schools programme for Reading that I help with). So buoyed on by the success of the children yesterday and the 'abysmal' weather we're having today, I decided to get stuck into paper craft as soon as I woke up this morning. Or more precisely, a 3D image with different types of paper.
I decided to use a message very familiar to me (as I still haven't got used to this English weather despite having lived here for 15 years) and got my crepe paper, card and cotton wool out to recreate a cloudy day at London Docklands (notice the gherkin, Exchange Tower and London City airport), but starting with a bright and brilliant blue summer sky, then overlaid with a range of clouds. As I worked on each stage, I used the object that I was modelling to form my prayers, so starting by praying for the UK economy then thanking God for sunshine etc.
The scripture didn't actually come to the very end when I was looking for a Bible verse that would fit the picture (often the way I like to do prayer paper craft), but when I found this one, I thought how apt it was. For those who can't see, the message is: "we may not always see the sun, but it is always there" and the scripture is "behold! I AM with you always - even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20".
This was a really enjoyable use of prayer time and I now have something tangible to remind me of my prayer time and the message it contains whenever I pass it hanging on my wall. I like making things in prayer time; I guess it's because the sense of touch is so important to me.
An interesting take on prayer, probably not too dissimilar from the typical format of intercession but maybe with a little more silence included, I came across this method yesterday whilst googling different methods of prayer, and thought it sounded like a nice, relaxed way of 'doing' prayer and a great outlet for the concerns I've had about my friends and people I've met this week.
Not in the same manner as in the Old Testament times, when people were radically transformed (physically and emotionally) by talking with God, and it could, to an outsider, appear to be a very dangerous thing to do, the modern twist of talking with God includes bringing him concerns, thoughts, worries and just having, again to what would appear to an outsider as, a one-way conversation with a friend. Chatting informally about all kinds of topics and focussing on the one or two issues that really present a concern at a given time.
I've tried to do this before, usually whilst driving or waiting for someone, but too many distractions have presented themselves, and so tonight, I chose to talk with God in the bath (one of my two favourite places of prayer; the other being my car...) after my husband had gone to bed, all the chores had been done for the day and the mind was clearer and less busy.
I found the time a little difficult to get away from all the distractions at first, but it quickly became a haven of peace, solitude and comfort, and took my burdens away, allowing me to feel really settled for a good night's sleep. I think this is something I'll come back to a number of times, as I love chatting with people, and who else is better than God who sees everything and goes everywhere, reducing the need to waste time setting the scene and filling in the background info. Also, it helps me unload my cares to a safe place where I can trust the answers will come in time.
The labyrinth is a 12th century maze-like path, mixing rituals and visuals, contemplative words and space for reflection. Many people walk a labyrinth slowly whilst considering the deeper meaning in their lives and contemplating their faith journey - past, present and future. There are many ways to pray the labyrinth and it many forms it may take; I chose to use an online labyrinth today (see here) that included all the words, scriptures, points for meditation and activities, and all I had to do was let myself create and follow the spoken mood.
I chose the labyrinth today as many people have asked me if I've used the labyrinth yet when I've told them about my '40 days, 40 ways' journey. I used one a few times at St. Beuno's when I was there on retreat last year, and bought a postcard so I could follow the labyrinth with my finger in prayer, but when I stumbled upon this online labyrinth, I was delighted and decided to use this for my prayers today.
I found the whole process quite therapeutic and stirring. It met me where I was, still contemplating my dream from yesterday and yearning for some more relaxed, engaging forms of prayer that enabled me more space to sit and reflect silently. And it took me on, showing me other sides of some truths with which I am very familiar.
For instance, just as we breathe out the unhelpful things in our lives, others breathe them in, for carbon dioxide is largely a waste product for us, but is essential and very much desired by other living organisms (plants). And whilst our situations and experiences have shaped and moulded us into what we are today, so too have we changed and altered them, leaving our footsteps on their landscapes.
Dancing with dreams? Despairing over dreams? Doing dreams? I'm actually cheating a little here and doing the follow-up bits on Wednesday for a dream I had on Tuesday (counting it as Tuesday's prayer time). Anyway, I tend to have a lot of dreams, particularly at important moments of my life or when I don't give myself enough time and space to deal with things during my waking hours. Whether that's similar to the dreamers in the Bible, a feature of hypothyrodism (apparently!) or I just tend to have a better memory, I'm not sure, but today my prayer time was focussed on a dream I had yesterday.
I've found it helpful with a vivid and powerful dream to initially acknowledge its rightful place - it is a feature of my mind trying to work something out, but it doesn't necessarily have to colour my view of the world or my situation. Secondly, I like to try to unpack the dream and work out what it means, by asking God for insight, guidance and direction, then meditating on what I think the dream might mean, following up leads through discussion with friends, spiritual advisors or self-help books (Christian ones rather than New Age). Finally I like to explore the dream further through reflection on my life and my situation (by using the examen for example), meditating using a song on repeat or absorbing the meaning through some other activity, e.g. a walk, some craft or art-work.
There are many things to be wary of in each stage, and it's a sensitive and potentially long process (I spent three hours reflecting on my dream today), but can be extremely beneficial to my soul, the lives of those around me and to peaceful sleep the following nights. It can also be a tremendous tool in developing my prayer life and furthering my faith journey.
When I was a little girl, we were taught to pray by using TSP (Thank you, Sorry, Please). When I was a little older, I was taught to pray using my hand (the pinkie is the world; the ring finger are sick people; the middle finger represents leaders; the index finger the church; and the thumb, ourselves). So I used both of these in conjunction this morning to pray today.
I prayed for approximately 10 minutes of thanks, then 10 mins sorry, then 10 mins please. I incorporated apologies for things I've done wrong in thought, actions and speech, and also apologies for things my culture, town, country and world have done wrong, e.g. destroying natural habitats. I used the please time for requests for myself (mainly to be a better person) and intercessions for people, countries and situations I'm concerned about at the moment. My thanks included the beautiful weather I had today!
I found 10 minutes of lots of little prayers (thanks for... thanks for... thank you for...; please please please) felt a bit awkward; a little like a child praying, which indeed it was for me the last time I regularly used it. I also found that it limited my scope for prayer, and reduced the amount of 'listening' I did. A useful method for when you're asked to lead intercessions in church with little warning, but maybe not a technique I will use regularly in my prayer life, unless I was very sick or tired.
I often spend long car journeys in prayer, using the beautiful scenery that I pass, discussions, natural silences and background music to direct my prayers, and provide a foundation for further exploration. This weekend was the first time I didn't have that freedom to pray quite like I'm used to, as I was the driver, rather than the navigator this time. But as I felt afterwards that my journey was one of the best prayer times I've had, I chose driving as my method of prayer for today.
I prayed before setting off on both journeys, and sent up a few arrow prayers over the course of the trip. I reflected on what I've been learning about God, my calling and those around me in the silences. And I followed any promptings from the Spirit, trusting in God to keep me and my passengers safe. I learnt that I don't like motorway driving, that sometime I'm going to have to take a retreat in the New Forest as it's such a stunning place, and that when we truly trust and follow God, even the most scary times can seem sane and peaceful.
I used my experiences during the trip to provide a running commentary on what I was learning about other drivers, (and, to an extent, the message this gave me about other travellers on this journey called 'life'), to my passengers and God throughout the journey. I didn't realise quite how much I believe the power of prayer had on the safety of us all until I was shunted the next day while stationary in heavy traffic on a side street in Reading. I'm not going to allow myself the opportunity to consider the damage the same van may have caused had I been on the motorway at the time.
