I was out for my walk the other day. Early spring was in the air, still a bit crisp but the hope of warmth had pushed the daffodils up from their beds and the maple buds from their branches.

The clouds were graceful wisps, the sunset tossing delicate pinks across the horizon… when suddenly there burst through my placid musing such a cacophony as I have never heard. Swa-honking calls of Canada geese, only unusually loud.

I looked up and it was geese alright but the biggest flock I’d ever seen. I stopped counting at 100 and EVERY one of them joyously calling. It was a happy, haphazard flock, no discernible formation. For a few minutes they rollicked westward toward the Chesapeake Bay. Then a couple veered off northwards, as if obedient to the ancient prompting to head north. Within minutes the raucous troupe had joined them. Next thing I knew, a sharp left turn of 100 fat birds and they were headed bayward again. Eventually, it looked like they crossed the Pennsylavania line northward and continued that course, the honking chorus finally faded.

Silence. It was kind of nice after the fun frolic of the extroverted 100.

Then a calm, quiet, “honk, honk”. I looked up and there were 12, exactly 12 Canada geese flying so quietly overhead that I could hear their wings whir. They held a perfect V formation with the lead goose giving an occasional quiet “honk” to keep the group on task. After a few minutes, following perfect goose tradition, he gently dropped to the back left wing of the V and the second in command faithfully, silently took his place at the front tip. Perfect introverted goose-ness.

It got me thinking about our weekly prayer meetings. The extrovert pray-ers consider prayertime a social time to which God is invited. They merrily share about everything in life and comment on everyone else’s prayer requests or praises. Extroverts praying together is often a happy, raucous time. The actual “Dear God” part of the session is short because they were confident that God was listening to the whole thing anyway.

When introverts pray together, the request time is shorter. There is no cross-talk and not much merriment is required. It is quiet and purposeful. The actual, “Dear God” part is longer and comes sooner in the session. They pray in orderly fashion, waiting turns, and often allowing moments of silent listening.

Just like both flocks of geese successfully ended up in the right direction, I imagine our prayers do, too. We all have a part to play and a way to pray.

I ran this post concurrently at  7 Sisters Homeschool.

One of my favorite ways to pray is Lectio Divina (Latin for Divine Reading). It is to me the most fun and hopeful kind of prayer.

Lectio Divina is an ancient Benedictine form of prayer that is practiced by many people. There are a number of different ways to pray with Lectio Divina. Wonderfu! I never run out of new ways to connect with God through it.

Here is the most common way I practice Lectio Divina:

1) I choose a Scripture passage (my favorite is Revelation 4).

2) I read it respectfully, but not as “Bible study” (which I also love- looking up words and similar passages- that is for another day).

3) I read it again, slowly, asking God to speak to me through the passage.

4) Then, I imagine myself into the scene. What would it have been like if I were there? What would I see, feel, do? I ask God to teach me through my imagination.

5) I read the passage again and ask Him what He wants me to do with or learn from the passage.

6) I listen for His answer.

When I imagine myself into Bible scenes, I never fail to learn something. Usually I learn something about hopefulness, trusting God, or just enjoying the acts of God.

Try this: Read Revelation 4: respectfully, then slowly. Next imagine you are in the Throne Room of God. The 4 beasts and the 24 elders are all calling, “Holy, holy, holy…”. God is on His throne surrounded by a rainbow, lightenings and thunderings are coming from His throne. The elders fall on their faces and cast their crowns before the Lord…. How are you feeling? Read the passage again. What are you learning by seeing yourself there? What is God teaching you?

Lately I have been enjoying joining the saints of the past in praying some of the prayers that they wrote down for us.

This prayer is often called St. Patrick’s Breastplate. Try spending a little time with God through this prayer:

I bind unto myself today

The strong name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same,

The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever

By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;

His baptism in the Jordan river;

His death on Cross for my salvation;

His bursting from the spiced tomb;

His riding up the heavenly way;

His coming at the day of doom;

I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power

Of the great love of the cherubim;

The sweet ‘wel done’ in judgement hour,

The service of the seraphim,

Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,

The Patriarchs’ prayers, the Prophet’s scrolls,

All good deeds done unto the Lord,

And purity of the virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today

The virtues of the starlit heaven,

The glorious sun’s life-giving ray,

The whiteness of the moon at even,

The flashing of the lightning free,

The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,

The stable earth, the deep salt sea,

Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today

The power of God to hold and lead,

His eye to watch, His might to stay,

His ear to hearken to my need.

The wisdom of my God to teach,

His hand to guide, His shield to ward,

The word of God to give me speech,

His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,

The vice that gives temptation force,

The natural lusts that war within,

The hostile men that mar my course;

Or few or many, far or nigh,

In every place and in all hours,

Against their fierce hostility,

I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,

Against false words of heresy,

Against the knowledge that defiles,

Against the heart’s idolatry,

Against the wizard’s evil craft,

Against the death wound and the burning,

The choking wave and poisoned shaft,

Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,

Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,

The strong name of the Trinity;

By invocation of the same,

The Three in One, and One in Three,

Of Whom all nature hath creation,

Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:

Praise to the Lord of my salvation,

Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

This is the 1889 translation by C.F. Alexander

Ever felt confused, confounded, despairing, or disheartened? How do you pray when you don’t have a clue or the energy to find a clue?

Here are several ways to pray during dark and difficult times:

Silent prayer or groaning prayer

Did you ever just sit in silence, allowing God to sit with you in your pain and confusion? This is prayer without words. (It works the same way with people- sometimes you just sit silently with them in their pain.)

Sometimes one’s pain is so strong that neither words nor silence will suffice. A simple moan or groan says it all. This is prayer without words, also.

Take a look at Romans 8:26-27 (KJV, biblegateway.com)

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Confusing times are times to pray by casting your care on the Lord. In prayer, tell Him about your troubles and how you feel- be honest. Then wait, wait, wait…

Look at I Peter 5:7 (KJV, biblegateway.com)

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

It may sound trite, but it is ok. God cares. He knows. Simply be with Him for now.