June 8, 2005
Priority
“I have not placed reading before praying because I regard it more important, but because, in order to pray aright, we must understand what we are praying for.”
Angelina Grimke, U S abolitionist and feminist, wrote this in 1836. I’ve not the faintest idea why, lest, perhaps she was feeling defensive about her prayer life. I’ve never thought about prayer and reading that way, but I have certainly thought about prayer and writing that way.
There’s this. Which comes first, prayer or writing, varies almost from day to day. Both make me more alert. Writing, for being constantly on the watch for the ludicrous and ironic wherever, for it is there, always, waving its flag. Prayer, for bringing me into a deeper sense of myself and God and those with whom I am connected.
Each morning I read my prayer list. Family, neighbors, those living alone, clergy and lay colleagues close and distant, friend and foe, the dead. It grows almost weekly as I remember anew or as someone dies anew, as I do and they do now more and more. They and the other characters, those who move across the stage of the biblical lections, seem more and more alive, less and less distant, more into the problems and joys we all have in common, less and less on some kind of inside piety race with God and vocation. As well, with the songs as canticles and psalms of the Morning Office.
With apology to Ms Grimke, I can say that I have not placed writing before praying because I regard it to be more important, but because, in order to pray aright, I must understand what I am praying for. Writing does that, whether it comes before or after. It is always a note with you and me in mind, giving substance and shape to prayer.