Do not worry about the language you use.
Three boys, three types of cereal. I know that perhaps I should adopt the “we open one box of cereal at a time” method. Certainly would mean less boxes on my counter which would make me very happy. But, they each have their own tastes. Presently, one wants berry Cheerios, one apple cinnamon, the other “Just plain, please.”
I love watching how each of them, though supremely alike down to their straight brown hair and brown eyes, interact with the world in their own special ways.
We all have our own unique ways of interacting with the world – and perhaps the same is true with how we interact with God as well. How you pray is different from how I pray… and the best thing is…
God understands us both.
When they got into the car this morning, one twin gave one of his Cheerios to the other “Do you like it?” he asked. “Yes, now you try mine.”
You try mine.
Doesn’t that work with prayer as well? You pray your way and I’ll pray mine… and then we will share our ways with one another.
I found this poem about prayer in a book by Mary Oliver called Devotions that highlights this well:⠀
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“Do you bow your head when you pray or do you look up into that blue space?
Take your choice, prayers fly from all directions.
And don’t worry about what language you use,
God no doubt understands them all.
Even when the swans are flying north and making such a ruckus of noise, God is surely listening and understanding.
Rumi said, There is no proof of the soul.
But isn’t the return of spring and how it
springs up in our hearts a pretty good hint?
Yes, I know, God’s silence never breaks, but is that really a problem?
There are thousands of voices, after all.
And furthermore, don’t you imagine (I just suggest it) that the swans know about as much as we do about the whole business?
So listen to them and watch them, singing as they fly. Take from it what you can.”
How will you talk to God today? And share that conversation with others?
