Is this prayer as well?

We all have an understanding of prayer –
or do we?

There’s a great perspective upon prayer by George Lings entitled ‘Seven Sacred Spaces‘. I wouldn’t wanted to remove the desire for anyone to buy a copy of his book – please do – so I only want to reflect upon the salient points of this illuminating discussion about prayer.

He speaks of prayer within the monastic environment, of the various Orders: Benedict, Francis, Augustine amongst others.

But we live in the modern world, so how does this apply to us today?

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This is the second of a series of posts about prayer as we seek to understand more of prayer. Last time we looked at how we individually perceive prayer.

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Where do these spaces exist within our lives today?

The Cell

The Cell is a space where we can exist. For some, it is a prayer corner, in one area of a room, where there exists a thin place. But it does not need to be a physical space. Let’s break out of the mould of this physical cell and be released!

The Cell is within us, where we might be with God, in an intimate relationship. It is where we can talk one-to-one with God. Is this prayer as well?

Could we be on the bus (think a few months time if we are still in a pandemic), quietly in our own thoughts, and be also in our ‘cell’?

Something the Pray-As_you_go app seeks to help and support. This short period of time is where we can anchor ourselves. It is a fixed portion of time each day where we are with God.

The Garden

Again, take ourselves away from the physical garden, for these titles are imposed upon an understanding of a Monastery. Our Garden is where our fruitful work may exist. Today, within the pandemic, we might be working from home (WFH, a new mnemonic), or confined to home – here still is where our ‘work’ is conducted. If we apply ourselves to a particular task, we can consider ourselves in a Garden – and here God exists, is, next to us, with us. That conversation, once contained within the Cell, can now spill out, just as the flowers burst out in the Spring: we can be in conversation with God. Is this prayer as well?

The Refectory

Just as the Monks may have had an opportunity to welcome in people to provide hospitality, we also may have such opportunities in the future. Here we have the Guest and the Host issue. When exactly are we the Guest …and the Host? When people come into our Church, do we treat them as guests, where they follow our rules, traditions? Or do we offer them an opportunity to ask questions? I have worked with Revd Sally, below; this is wonderful.

Can we also see that in this meeting of others we also meet with God? Perhaps in such conversations, we can listen to God speaking to us? This is also prayer.

The Cloister

This is where we meet with others unexpectedly, unplanned. I’d associate this myself with café’s. Perhaps, in this pandemic, at the Park, or – six foot apart – near the meat counter in the local supermarket. Where we might exchange a word with another, or our eyes meet with another, and however we describe it, there is a conversation. Again, here we include God – God within the other.

The Chapter

We could consider this is where we attend that Church Council meeting, where decisions occur. I’d prefer to focus upon that latter aspect = where we decide together. It is where we come together, with possibly different points of view and ask of the Holy Spirit to intervene. I understand that the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels, for they are ‘seen as one’. The Church also attends Synod meetings, where the word Synod refers to ‘meeting together’. It is a coming of minds (and hearts).

Perhaps here we can also see where Prayer is entwined: not a set prayer, not one possibly even spoken but where God is a very and necessary part of the conversation. God is intentionally part of the conversation. Is this prayer as well?

The Scriptorium

This may not be where the minister or preacher speaks for 30+ minutes to ensure that every aspect of their ‘3 points’ have been covered. It is where we may pass on knowledge. Whether it was the Monks writing so that others could also be informed of the ‘Good News’, here we can do so in such a variety of ways today. Either by vlogging, blogging, speaking, preaching or proclaiming, or being alongside another. Some occasions there is silence, whereas in others there is verbal conversation.

When someone passes on, there may be tributes as to how they were a role model to someone. That act of being a role model didn’t happen when they died, when they were alive, being the ‘good news’.

This is also prayer in action. Is prayer a verb?

Finally…

The Chapel

A place of corporate liturgy, as Lings writes (p148). Here is that example of prayer we have become accustomed to, but I hope now we may see that prayer is so much more.

Prayer is our heartbeat

So is all of this prayer as well? It is the very heartbeat of our life. It flows, its pace can vary without detriment, with out consternation or criticism. Our prayer life may include periods of silence and also explosions describing pain (or joy!). It can exist within the busyness of life as well as the quieter times. It is everything.

via GIPHY