When we moved into our cabin I knew exactly where I wanted my desk. It had to be in the loft, facing a window that looks out to the north.
The view through the window is the south side of our mountain. That includes a road where I sometimes see our neighbors, or maybe my wife and dog, taking a morning stroll. I can also see several huge rocks that were pushed around by continental shifts millennia ago. They remember when these mountains were the tallest in the world. There are couple thousand trees and of course, critters. Squirrels are common, as are crows, tufted titmouse, and cardinals. There have been sightings of box turtles, wild turkeys, and deer. There is evidence that a bear or two has passed this way. Sometimes, at night, I wonder about the wild cousins that I haven’t seen but I know they sneak by: the skunks, raccoons, and snakes. All that, plus a never ending sky that will sometimes send a thick cloud into our yard. It all reminds me why some call creation, “God’s first bible.” Like the psalmist says, it’s all telling the glory of God and proclaiming his handiwork.
On my side of the window, the top of my desk is covered with icons, spiritual mementos, pictures of family, and words that I have written to remind me that I am a child of the light. The books I am reading devotionally are there and they speak to me of God’s love and acceptance. When I’m sitting at my desk, sipping a good cup of coffee, it’s pretty easy to be a Christian.
Sometimes it feels so easy I do a little spiritual checkup just to remind myself that there may still be a spot or two in my heart that needs some work. It’s a pretty simple test. I just ponder that part of the prayer that goes, “your will be done.”
I’m afraid I almost always – by that I mean every time so far – feel a little hitch when it’s time to pray that. If I was going to pray honestly, and there’s really no reason not to, I would probably pray, “Thy kingdom come and for right now let’s just talk about what you have in mind concerning my life.”
Why do you suppose that is? I’m not sure there is an easy answer. Part of it is all that awesomeness outside my window makes God look pretty big and frankly a little wild, in others words, scary. I know that wanting to be in control plays a big part. I have some plans of my own. What if God wants me to go where I don’t want to go or do what I don’t want to do? A desire for comfort and my feelings of unworthiness also play a part. I am certain that a basic underlying fear of risk and change are part of the mix as well. But, why would I be afraid of the One who has gone to such great and amazing effort to say and prove that the nature of our Creator is love.
Think about it, love God – love neighbor – God is love – God so loved the world – I will never leave or forsake you – this is my commandment that you love as you have been loved – God saw creation and called it good – steadfast love – we are God’s own – surely goodness and mercy… you get the point. Still the hitch persists.
Thy will be done. Thy will be done. Thy will be done. Maybe if I say enough I will live it.

Jesus’ response to “teach us to pray” was “when you pray, pray in this way” and then he gave the disciples what we call the Lord’s Prayer.

I have found the following exercise to be helpful as I linger in prayer, using those words. I have practiced it in quiet times of devotion, sitting by the ocean, and at my desk during the work day. It is an exercise that travels.

What helps me linger is being aware of my breath and making my breathing a part of the praying. The fathers and mothers of spiritual disciplines have noted that breathing and prayer are closely related. Once, I heard a director comfort a young woman who was insecure in her prayer life that she should remember that “if you are breathing, you are praying.”

I offer instructions for each of the phrases. You should feel free to adopt it to your own rhythm but do breathe deeply and slowly. Take your time hold each breath a few seconds as you ponder the suggested thoughts or others that come to your mind.

First, take a moment to recognize that the Spirit is indeed present. Right here, right now.

Breathe in. Ask the Lord to help you pray, remembering that this prayer was given as a response to the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray.

Breathe out. “Our Father, who art in heaven,” As you breathe out, send your prayer out, calling on our Father who draws us into his presence.

Breathe in. “hallowed be thy name.” Take in God’s transforming holiness.

Breathe out. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” Make your petition to the one whose will is prefect love.

Breathe in. “on earth, as it is in heaven.” As you breathe in, take in the Spirit. Take God’s will into your heart, a child of the earth, a part of creation.

Breathe out. “Give us this day” Release your petition to the one who graciously gives us all that we need.
Breathe in. “our daily bread.” Take in the living bread of life.

Breathe out. “And forgive us our trespasses,” Prayer to the one who delights in mercy and forgivness.

Breathe in. “as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Receive forgiveness and receive the power to forgive.

Breathe out. “And lead us not into temptation,” Remember that you are praying to the Good Shepherd.

Breathe in. “but deliver us from evil.” Receive the life changing Spirit of God.

Breathe out. “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, the glory,” Make this your statement of faith. Breathe out for the world what you believe.

Breathe in. “forever.” Breathe in eternal and abundant life.

Breathe out. “Amen.” Amen.

Some say that there are four major stages in life: 1) the student, 2) the householder, 3) the forest dweller, 4) the wise one. I am in the third stage, a forest dweller. This is true for me chronologically, spiritually, and it also happens to be true physically as my wife and I are living in a cabin on a wooded lot in the foothills of western North Carolina.

My understanding of this stage is that one now focuses on relationships; their relationship with nature, self, family, friends, but primarily forest dwellers focus on their relationship with God. As I consider ways of practicing this, I am finding that in spite of being baptized as an infant, calling myself Christian since 1971, and serving as a United Methodist minister for over thirty years, I am something of a novice when it comes to walking with the Holy One.

I don’t want to overstate this because these six plus decades have truly been an amazing adventure but sometimes it feels like the Lord and I have simply worked on several projects together, talked on the phone a good bit, and have some mutual friends. Often when I take prayer walks, look at mountains, or watch water falls, I wonder just what it means to give attention to my relationship with God and I realize that I am very much in the first steps of this journey of knowing and being known by the one who, as Anslem said, “is beyond that which can be grasped,” and yet is closer than breath itself.

It’s going to be a long journey, much longer than a thousand miles but it still begins with that next faithful step. So, here’s the question; what is the next step? Or, to put it another way, if a friend asked you what is the one thing, the most important thing, they can do to improve their relationship with Christ, what would you tell them?

I have asked a lot of people that question and I have heard a lot of different answers. Many have said that studying the Bible is the best way to grow. Others say that serving others, seeing and experiencing Christ in the “least of these” is the key. A good hiking buddy says he ponders nature, the creator’s first bible, and there Christ is most real. There are a lot of legitimate answers to the question but here’s mine: prayer. I believe that learning to pray is the foundation. The relationship is built on prayer.

So Luke 11:1 is the theme verse for this forest dweller who is hoping to grow in friendship with the Incarnate One. “Lord, teach us (me) to pray.”

I believe I’ll pray that, ponder that, practice that for a while.