Anne Lamott,
In her book,
Help,
Thanks,
Wow,
Says that these are the three essential prayers.
In this time,
We'll take some reflection on each of these areas and practice gratitude and release.
My name is Jess,
And I struggle with daily attention to meditation and prayer.
I write and record these meditations out of my own need and what I would need.
And welcome to this Help,
Thanks,
Wow journey.
To begin,
Let's take five big breaths,
Loud enough that if someone was sitting next to you,
They could hear you breathe.
We'll do this to quiet our heart and mind and be ready for these three essential prayers.
Lamott begins with the idea of asking for help as a necessary and powerful prayer.
She talks about how acknowledging our need for help requires humility and vulnerability.
In times of despair,
Worry,
Or pain,
This prayer allows us to reach out to a strength beyond ourselves.
None of us are without areas of needing help and assistance.
This is usually directed at God,
The divine or a power beyond ourselves.
So let's take a moment and identify where are we vulnerable?
Where are we asking for help?
Just take a moment and breathe into that question.
As we breathe,
Breathe in the words my heart seeks and breathe out the words and finds help.
My heart seeks and finds help.
My heart seeks and finds help.
Thanks.
In the second section of her book,
Lamott emphasizes the importance of gratitude.
The thanks prayer reminds us to appreciate the good in our lives,
Even in the midst of hardships.
She explains how cultivating a habit of gratitude can shift our perspective,
Bringing more peace and joy.
So take a minute and think what do you have to be grateful for today?
Breathe into that question.
What do you have to be thankful for on this day?
And as you breathe,
Inhale my heart seeks and exhale and finds gratitude.
My heart seeks and finds gratitude.
Wow.
Wow is the final prayer and it's about awe and wonder.
Lamott describes how this prayer is often spontaneous,
Arising when we witnessed something beautiful,
Majestic,
Profoundly moving.
This prayer connects us to the world and reminds us of the mystery and the wonder of life and his way of expressing reverence for the world and recognizing the beauty all around us.
So what has you in wonder these days?
Where are you moved by beauty?
Where are you finding your wow?
Breathe into those questions and as you breathe,
Breathe in my heart seeks and breathe out and finds wonder.
My heart seeks and finds wonder.
My heart seeks and finds wonder.
Friends,
I hope the beauty and simplicity of Lamont's offering meets you where you are at on this day.
Thanks.
Wow.
