Week 1: When You Pray, Move Your Feet
During my childhood, I prayed somewhat traditionally. In bed before going to sleep. Usually about pressing matters, like the terrifying black lab that lived next door. My sister and I were sure if we didn't pray for protection each night, that dog would leap through our basement-level window and rip us to shreds.
As a teenager, it was much the same. I prayed before bed and usually through tears for comfort and understanding. I was a drama queen in a huge way.
This was the way it was until my junior year of high school, when I started showing symptoms of a brain hemorrhage. Most alarmingly, a spreading numbness that eventually encompassed the entire left side of my body. I remember walking from class to class in denial. With every step, I repeated "Please make it go away" like a mantra. It didn't. I ended up in emergency surgery and in the hospital for a month.
So, I'm not sure why this version of prayer has stuck with me so completely. (Other than the fact that now that I'm grown, the minute I hit the bed, I'm asleep almost immediately.) Now, my prayers happen most often on my walks to work or even when I'm by myself at work in the morning. One of the few times I'm alone. My mind opens up. And with every step...
Hope.
Courage.
Comfort.
Strength.
Peace.
For others.
And for myself.
As a teenager, it was much the same. I prayed before bed and usually through tears for comfort and understanding. I was a drama queen in a huge way.
This was the way it was until my junior year of high school, when I started showing symptoms of a brain hemorrhage. Most alarmingly, a spreading numbness that eventually encompassed the entire left side of my body. I remember walking from class to class in denial. With every step, I repeated "Please make it go away" like a mantra. It didn't. I ended up in emergency surgery and in the hospital for a month.
So, I'm not sure why this version of prayer has stuck with me so completely. (Other than the fact that now that I'm grown, the minute I hit the bed, I'm asleep almost immediately.) Now, my prayers happen most often on my walks to work or even when I'm by myself at work in the morning. One of the few times I'm alone. My mind opens up. And with every step...
Hope.
Courage.
Comfort.
Strength.
Peace.
For others.
And for myself.