It is painful to hear people refer to praying as something difficult, something they have trouble doing, something they feel blocked from doing, something they could never do aloud if their lives depended on it. I want to tell them: Here! Read this poem and think about what it is telling you.
The poem is a short and wonderful piece of writing by Mary Oliver that sums up how simple prayer really can be. Its title is “Praying” and it goes: It doesn’t have to be / the blue iris, it could be / weeds in a vacant lot, or a few / small stones; just / pay attention, then patch // a few words together and don’t try / to make them elaborate, this isn’t / a contest but the doorway // into thanks, and a silence in which / another voice may speak.
This poem is from Mary Oliver’s 2007 collection of poems entitled Thirst. I don’t know that prayer could be more simply or beautifully described than as “not a contest, but the doorway.” Nor do I think that further observations from me will add to the power or completeness.
