Wordless Prayer

Brilliant orange fills the western sky
reflecting off low clouds, distant mountains,
and tall saguaros. Amazed by the sight,
he stops his walk to stand in the glow.
Wordless prayer, allowing the moment
to saturate the soul.

Knowing that the end is near, he stands quietly
at the bedside of a friend. Their friendship
spans decades, a storehouse of treasured
memories. He weeps as he watches the
labor of death. Wordless prayer, the
intense awareness of a sacred moment.

She stands at the kitchen sink, her hands
dipping into hot, soapy water. Each dish
is handled with practiced care. Without
intention, she becomes aware of the warm
water, the dishes used by her husband
and children, their laughter and their
smiles. A feeling of gratitude sweeps
through her, gratitude in that moment.
Deep consciousness. Prayer without
words.

He pulls a club from his golf bag, looks
down the beautiful green fairway,
pauses to see it as if for the first time,
a momentary portrait of creation…

She hikes often on this trail. She knows
every turn, every steep climb. But
today, an awareness builds in her mind,
joy, her physical strength, the magnificence
of the mountain…

They are both gardeners who share a love
for the earth and all its gifts, a love that
developed over many years of marriage.
This afternoon they stand side by side
looking at the shoots and buds of new
life popping up in the soil. The stand
in wonder…

Each of these has walked into an unplanned
Presence. Each feels an unexplainable
connection to the moment. They stand
in quiet wonder. Mind and heart and
spirit unite, elevating common experience
to a wordless encounter with the
Uncommon.

And that is prayer.