EXCERPT: Life can be very stressful. The pace of change is continually accelerating and the clash of cultural perspectives and conflicting viewpoints can be a source of confusion in the modern world. We may often feel that we lack the wisdom to cope with the challenges of the day. Many advocate meditation as a way to deal with such challenges. There are many different forms and their focus and technique can vary with the religious outlook that informs them. The Eastern forms of meditation based on Buddhism or rooted in the Hindu faith, for example, are very different from Christian understandings of it. This essay will focus on Christian forms of meditation because the author is a Christian and believes that there is little value to be gained from the alternative forms.

EXCERPT: Waking up to the clamorous chirp of his bird alarm sixty-two-year-old John Martins was thrilled to see that the harsh bitter days of winter were long behind him. Illuminating his room in a whitish yellow hue the sparkle of Spring’s long-awaited sunshine basked his skin a sign that more pleasant days were ahead finally after a tedious winter that left the tiny town of Harkins, Pennsylvania in a shut down status for most of the season. Stretching his arms sitting up he could not help but notice the space next to him in his bed once occupied by his wife Millie was empty. Only three months since her sudden passing from a major heart attack another catastrophe of treacherous conditions. If the roads were not iced up and closed off, she would still be here with him cackling and telling crazy jokes.

EXCERPT: I see the longing in your eye.

And don’t think that I cannot feel the same. We both have memories of motion, the wind blowing in our smiling faces, with only my ties to earth holding us within the arc of our travel toward the sky. Yes, there was that faint frisson of fear as your excitement drove us ever higher and higher, and that weightless moment as we hovered between ascent and the downward rush to embrace repeat.

Thank you, Jeff, for writing the newsletter about praying in different ways. I do most of them, among a few others. I especially love the prayer walk. It gets Fable and me out of the house to enjoy the fresh air, and I take K-Love with us. I love to listen to my worship music and sing along the way. Fable loves getting outside, not sure about my singing though I think she ignores it sometimes. It keeps me grounded and helps me stay tuned in to my Papa! I give thanks to Him the whole time; it helps me tune out the world and its craziness. My soul feels so cleansed afterward. — LMs❤️BrewinMagic


Hi Jeff, a lovely article. I like the varied ways you define ‘prayer’. It’s refreshing to see the possibilities beyond the bowed head and folded hands, and a reliance on words. Yes, we are so much more and there are a multitude of ways to communicate with the Divine. Thank you for this inspiring read. — Mia - craving colour