A prayerful entry into Lent

Feb 27, 2015

By Effie Caldarola
Among the many cards I received this past Christmas season, I opened one from a group of German Benedictines and it graced me with the following quote: “Prayer does not replace any deed. But it is a deed that cannot be replaced by anything.”

The author of that quote was Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor who was a leader within the segment of his church that opposed Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer also was a theologian, a scholar, a wonderful spiritual writer.

Even though he had an opportunity to leave Germany while it was under Hitler’s Nazi regime, Bonhoeffer remained in the country. And like so many great Jewish, Protestant and Catholic religious leaders who stood up to Hitler, he paid dearly for his courage.

Even as Allied bombs could be heard approaching the city of Berlin, Bonhoeffer stayed. He was executed by the Nazis, leaving behind a grieving family and his young fiancee.

About once a year, I try to write about prayer. It certainly isn’t because I am an expert in the field. It’s more because I need to remind myself of the central role that prayer should play in my life. As Bonhoeffer's words remind me, it is a deed that cannot be replaced by anything else.

The Lenten season is a perfect time to return or to enter more deeply into this essential part of our spiritual nourishment.

But prayer isn’t easy. It isn’t even easily defined. It is an opening to God, a “doorway into thanks,” as the poet Mary Oliver says, “a silence in which another voice may speak.”

Although prayer seems to bring us to another realm, it’s rooted in our practical lives. First, spiritual writers tell us that we must choose a specific time and place for prayer and stick with it.

For many years, and even occasionally today, I postpone prayer with the vague promise to “do it later.” The day passes, and I find myself neglecting something that would have guided and enriched my day.

For me, first thing in the morning is a good time for prayer. I also need a special place. For over 30 years, and in two different homes, for me it’s been the dining room table. I’ve tried other spots, places that seemed more intrinsically “mine,” my office or bedroom, but I’m always drawn back to the spot by the window, with my candle and journal.

So the first thing to do is to choose your best time and space and make a commitment. Sometimes, prayer can seem dry and frustrating, almost fruitless. This is when I’m glad I’ve made the decision to stay in my chair. Eventually, I see the fruit of this commitment, and even on the days when I seem to fight a losing battle with my wandering thoughts, I, at least know I’ve made the effort and God will do the rest.

A spiritual director once told me to pray with the day’s scriptural readings. They are read by the universal Church, she said, and within them I would find the jewel that would inspire my prayer. Having a spiritual director to guide you in prayer can be very helpful.

There are many good publications that provide guidance and inspiration for prayer. Sometimes I read a short piece as I begin my prayer time. But I remember that this is meant to lead me into prayer. It doesn’t replace prayer.

When I see the world’s woes, I often think how better life would be if people really knew how to pray. When Bonhoeffer said prayer does not replace any deed, I think he was telling us that we still need to do good works, to fight for justice, to live our lives fully.

But how much better would our deeds and our lives be if we listened to the God who inspires our action?