Google the word prayer. Click on the images link. 95% of the images you'll find depict some person who looks like their trying with all their might to concentrate on something. Their hands will usually be locked in a mystifying position that would usually serve no other purpose. Almost always, that person's eyes will be closed.
Some of the images even have artistic lighting! The dramatic rays of sun appear to have a profound effect on the person praying. As if to say, "this person is praying so well that even the sun is taking notice." Yet this is what perplexes me the most.
Don't get me wrong. I love praying. I think it's powerful and tranquil. Yet is this the image of prayer? Why not a simple smile? Why not tears? Laughter? What about an empty room with no dramatic sun?
Having faith in Christ has allowed me to understand some of the images that I see on Google. Often times the closed eyes and concentration are to better focus on the God that the prayer is to. The hands, for one reason or another, also help in this regard. The bowing can usually be linked to a reflection of the soul at that time. As if the body is involuntarily saying, "I'm small. You're big. Who am I to stand up to you?"
All of these things are good things. However, I believe that it's of critical importance for everyone (Jesus follower or not), to understand that praying is not merely the presenting of a laundry lists of desires to God. If that were the sad truth, then I may as well worship Santa Clause as the pinnacle treasure in my life.
Rather, I believe it's of paramount importance to truly understand (and view) prayer as an invitation; God allowing us to have a really awesome conversation. Note that one of the requirements for a conversation is two-way communication. Not just, "Here Jesus! You are awesome and by the way it'd be great if you gave me this, this, and that." I believe that there needs to be an allowance for the soul to repreive. To receive whatever it is Christ wants us to receive at that moment in time--even if that means receiving nothing at all.
So, how then do we pray? What does "real" prayer look like?
To be continued... :)
1 comment:
to be literal,
prayer does not LOOK like anything :D
judged by an image, you cannot tell what is going on
it's inside that counts
so what i'm asking is
why make assumptions of right and wrong ways to pray?
you can't assume someone in dramatic lighting is giving a laundry list to God of what they want. and what if what is being displayed is merely an artistic expression to the viewer of how prayer FEELS like? that's how i perceive it. no need to delve into deep meanings of images :]
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