My Journey with Prayer: Embracing the Challenge of Writing Poetry
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Chapter 1: Understanding My Prayer Life
Writing a poem centered on prayer poses a unique challenge, one that I recently faced after subscribing to The Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad. This week's prompt intrigued me for several reasons—it was simply to craft a poem about prayer.
Before I dive in, let me clarify a couple of points.
First, my prayer life is somewhat sporadic; it ebbs and flows. At times, I forget to pray entirely, while at other moments, I find myself praying fervently.
Second, I’m not a poet. It's not that I lack the desire; I just feel uncomfortable and believe my skills in poetry aren't quite up to par.
With those thoughts in mind, I decided to challenge myself by writing a poem about prayer, recognizing the importance of tackling difficult tasks and stepping outside my comfort zone. Here’s my attempt:
My Prayer Life My prayers arrive like the tide. In tranquil moments, I often overlook them. Yet, during chaotic times, my words spill out in urgency. I yearn for a prayer practice defined by steadiness and genuineness. Prayers of gratitude for life’s simple joys: The song of morning birds, A warm cup of coffee, The gift of a new day. Prayers that express my need for comfort in tough times: When sickness strikes with no reason, And the weight of sadness keeps me in bed. Grieving what I cannot control. My prayer life embraces it all, Expressing everything on some days While struggling for words on others. Regardless of how I pray— Whether in quiet solitude or shouting against life’s injustices— I remind myself that my God is always listening. He hears it all and assures me that in time, Everything will be alright.
What I Discovered
Writing this poem allowed me to escape my own thoughts. Instead of overanalyzing every detail, I let my words flow freely onto the page. I stopped worrying about formatting and let the writing unfold naturally. I avoided getting tangled in rhyme or structure, which often stifles creativity.
This experience was enjoyable, and I realized I need to allow myself to write poetry more frequently. Much like my prayer journey, I must invite the words to flow more regularly and see where they lead.
Christine Denker is a writer, podcaster, adventurer, and educator. She focuses on personal development related to physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Tune into her podcast, "Let the Adventure Begin with Chris Denker," available on your favorite podcast platform. Join her for an engaging experience that is sure to delight.