Rev. James Martin, S.J., award-winning author, gives us a lighthearted quip about petition prayer: A man was desperately searching for a space in a church parking lot on his friend’s wedding day. As the best man at the wedding, he could not be late. He prays in desperation, “God, I’ll go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life if you just find me a space!” Suddenly a spot opens up. “Oh, never mind God,” he says, “I just found one.”
Praying takes practice and persistence for us to do well and feel comfortable in talking with God. We need to do it often, just like any accomplished artist or Olympian athlete – they consistently practice to make their craft become natural. Athletes use the word natural frequently to describe someone who looks smooth and flawless at home plate, even when a baseball is thrown at 100mph! St. Francis de Sales describes accomplished prayer as becoming second nature or natural in speaking to God without pause or contemplating a rehearsed moment in time.
In time, all of us hope and trust that speaking to God becomes like breathing or taking a comfortable walk in the park. This becomes real for us when we recognize we’ve experienced a wonderful conversation with Him. It is special and reciprocal, a connection we want to repeat,
to become like a good performing artist – a natural.
Besides serving here at St. John’s, I have received other wonderful gifts by working in agencies as a part-time counselor and mediator. What is wonderful about these gifts is the skill set for being a deacon and assisting in problem-solving are complimentary – it feels natural and seamless.
Early one morning, Patty, not her real name, came to my office quite stressed. She asked if she could talk with me about personal family issues, rather than work-related problems. “But of course,” I said, “everything said here is confidential.” Patty did not know I was Catholic or a deacon. She started by saying she had many things on her plate that contributed to her stress. I used a flip chart to begin listing her concerns. Half way through filling the large sheet, I silently petitioned St. Joseph for help. “Joseph, help me to help her – guide me with your wisdom.” After filling the sheet with her concerns, I paused and asked her to prioritize them. “Patty, tell me, what is number one on your list.” She had no trouble pointing to the one about caring for her husband, who has brain cancer. Number two was her concern for her daughter’s searching for rewarding employment. As she began to mention what was number three, I told her to stop prioritizing. I circled the two most important and asked her what she could do in the next 48 hours to address these. She paused and then said what she could do. “But what about the rest,” she said. “The rest will care for themselves. You have enough for now.” After this lengthy session, she was satisfied and ready to leave my office. But she consciously paused and asked if she should return to praying. For me, this was a no-brainer, “absolutely,” I said. “Should I go back to church too?” she asked. “Yes, of course,” I said. At this point, I decided to take a risk at my secular job. I had a stash of St. Francis de Sales prayer cards in my desk. I gave one to her.
A few weeks later, I visited her office. I noticed that she had placed the St. Francis card prominently on her computer. I believe, with practice, she will become a natural.
For those who don’t pray that often, there will be times when all of us seek Our Lord’s help. Although we may have been absent for some time, He is always there for us. He is passionately and patiently waiting for a conversation with us. In our elementary understanding of God’s Nature, it is hard to understand, with over 7 billion people on earth, how He has an intimacy with each one of us. We believe He does, and He absolutely loves it!
Fr. Martin writes, “…All of us are newcomers to prayer because our relationship with God changes over time and is constantly being renewed. Being human means being in relationship. Being human also means being in need and asking for help.”
Our relationship with God will change over our lifetime; sometimes it will happen easily, and will feel rich and consoling. At other times, it will seem difficult. But the important thing, as in any relationship, we need to keep at it, be persistent, and ultimately come to know and love Our Lord more deeply.
Jesus is asking us to persevere, to keep coming back to Him – naturally.
Deacon John
