The Prayer Thread is a collection of teachings and practical prompts to help as we learn to pray in community. This text was originally delivered on October 18, 2024 as a short teaching at our online weekly prayer sit.
There are days—many, in fact—when despite my grandest intentions, my discipline of prayer does not turn out as I would like. Sometimes the day gets too full. Sometimes my energy and motivation are low. Sometimes I am sick. Sometimes others’ needs press in on my schedule.
Regardless of what has detracted me from my full intentions for prayer, over time, I have learned that even the desire for prayer is enough (thank you Thomas Merton for your thoughts in solitude!). If it does not happen when I prefer that it happen, if it does not last as long as I wish it would, even if it does not formally “happen” at all, the desire and longing for it are enough.
Of course, “enough” is not a viable option for a sustaining life of prayer. But in the sense that the inherent goodness and fullness of life is already at work, alive and well, despite—or in tandem with—my own efforts, even when prayer does not turn out as I wish it would, it is still enough. It is still good. It is still sustained by the deeper and wider efforts of the Spirit at work, constantly acting on behalf of us many humans who don’t manage to show up to each and every moment perfectly.
Thank God for the constant and loving actions of the Holy One, supporting our life of prayer as enough!
