In my last post, I talked about how I have begun to pay attention to my breathing as I climb up steep mountain slopes. Attention to filling my lungs with air and pacing breath with my steps will certainly be a part of the long trek up, down, and across the heights and valleys of Virginia. But my focused breathing can also be a component of something other than physical exertion—and that is prayer.
I came across this quote yesterday that I have copied down in my little book of things to remember that I am taking in my backpack:
Your desire is your prayer;
and if your desire is without ceasing,
your prayer will also be without ceasing.-Augustine of Hippo
The apostle Paul encouraged us to “pray without ceasing.” How can we ever pray without ceasing? We have to work, take out the garbage, read stories to the kids (grandkids), go to the grocery store, attend meetings, mow the lawn, etc. etc. We are lucky to find five minutes to sit down, exhausted, and mutter a prayer to God before we fall asleep. Do you know what I mean?
And yet while we do all these things, we breathe constantly. It’s a given. So one of the things that I learned several years ago is the concept of a “breath prayer.” A breath prayer is a brief sentence, phrase or even a word that expresses our desire and longing for God. It is repeated with every inhalation and exhalation of breath. A famous breath prayer is called the “Jesus Prayer” and goes back to the sixth century in the Orthodox church. In its complete form it is: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me , a sinner.” It is often shortened, for example: “Jesus” (breathe in), “have mercy” (breathe out).
The purpose of a breath prayer is to pray it frequently along with our breath, making it a habit. It reminds us of the presence of God in the midst of our busyness. Those of us who are musicians might compare a breath prayer to a deep bass-ostinato sounding underneath all the other voices, grounding all the music that happens around it. Breath prayers travel with us. We can breathe it in the pause before we go into a difficult conversation, notice it as we turn on the ignition in the car, pause with it a moment as we change the baby’s diaper. Whenever and how often we remember and breathe our breath prayer, we acknowledge God’s presence and our desire to live our lives awake to God’s love within us.
For many people, their breathe prayer is personal and is not so much a word or phrase they “choose” as something that seems like it was “given.” Their breath prayer is something that best describes their longing for God: “Come, Holy Spirit.” “Jesus.” “Shalom.” “Fill me with your love.” People for whom breath prayer is an important practice may be reticent to share their particular prayer. I was going to drop my reticence today, go out on a limb, and post what my breath prayer is. But somehow a breath prayer which has become a gentle gift is shy about going public on the internet. So if you email me, text me or message me, I will tell you what my breath prayer has grown to be.
But I will say this: my breath prayer grew out of learning the gospel of John by heart and came to me one day while I was walking. It stuck. When I inhale the first half, I am acknowledging Christ’s presence within me. The exhaling words feel like my letting go and consenting to trust. The understanding that Christ’s presence is as close to us as our breathing is an amazing, grace-filled realization.
Does the breath prayer actually change the way I live? I can’t answer that. I only know that it is slowly, very slowly, becoming a prayer that can pop up out of nowhere, sometimes invade a conversation with an appeal for me to listen more attentively, sometimes accompany me as I go from one place to another, and sometimes invite me to look with different eyes for God working in a given situation. Breath prayer is a long way from telling God what I want God to do for me—not that there isn’t a time and place for that. But in the breath prayer, I am drawn out of my self-centered agenda and what I want. I am reminded, instead, that God’s purpose, lived through me, is much bigger than I can ever imagine. The breath prayer reminds me of the deep, unceasing thirst that has been placed in our spiritual hearts: to live our lives loving and being loved continuously within this mysterious and amazing God.
Chuck Miller says
I very much appreciate your characterization of the breath prayer as a gift. It seems to me, novice that I am, that it continues to be a gift; never controlled, but an experience of life within the Divine’s presence. Your explanation was very helpful to me, as always.
Elaine says
Chuck, I am still learning—as you well know. Writing helps me process what I’m learning. At the moment, I am wondering what prayer will look like when I’m hauling myself and my pack over rocks with mosquitoes in my face. 🙂 Will breath prayer feel like a gift then??
Chuck Miller says
Maybe. Maybe not. The cool thing is that whether or not it feels like a gift, easy or hard, God will still be shaping you spiritually, and shining in and through you. The Light is big enough to shine even when we’re grumpy about life’s mosquitoes. 🙂
Holly Simons says
I am carrying you in my heart and prayers in this profound journey, Elaine. Thank you for this example of treasuring physical, mental, emotional and spiritual challenge and renewal. Breath prayer is so appealing, and has been making it’s pilgrimage into my spirit as well over the last few years. However, I’ve also noticed in the tumultuous journey of eldercare, new church and position there (I love it!), coaching 16 students weekly…. you know the gig…. that I have allowed some disciplines to slip, particularly scheduling retreat and solitude in the larger chunks of time needed to “refill”. Also, memorization of Scripture has fallen by the wayside. Your encouragements are the loving “goad” I am needing to get back to “walking the waterway” with intention, and shift priorities back to the life-giving activities that so nourish us all.
Hugs and continued prayers…..
Elaine Dent says
Thanks for your encouragement, Holly. There is something about a sabbatical that gives us space, focus and accountability to attend to what nourishes us and may have been neglected. I am grateful.