Mrs. Smedes' Prayer Chair
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series III, Cycle C
The Reverend Dr. Lewis Smedes was teaching our seminary class about ethics and addictive behaviors when he shared a story about his mother. It was a spontaneous aside. He told us how important prayer is in one's daily life and how it affects behavior. Deep, meaningful prayer is important, he said, to establish a solid basis to face stressful situations.
He had started the lecture by telling us about his daily devotional habit of praying, reading Scripture, and focusing on a specific passage to carry him through the day. It wasn't anything profound, but the way he said it spoke to us all. It was so simple and so honest. It was something we could emulate. We were impressed by his willingness to share a bit of his personal life.
Then he told us that we shouldn't be impressed one iota: he told us about his mother's prayer habit. It seems that when Dr. Smedes would come into the kitchen in the morning, his mother was already sitting in her rocking chair with her eyes closed, praying. She prayed aloud: for her family, her friends, her daily tasks, and whatever was on her heart. In fact, she poured her heart into her prayers: her morning prayers were the heart of her day and her life.
Dr. Smedes said that was the first thing he saw when the day began and it made a profound impression on his life. Dr. Smedes learned from his mother the importance of giving over everything to God in prayer. That was what should impress us he said.
Fortunately for us, classes at Fuller Seminary start with prayer. Professors and teaching assistants articulate their thoughts beautifully in front of the whole class. Words flow freely from their mouths as they offer prayers to God. Sometimes it would be like hearing poetry being read. Sometimes it would be complicated prayers with long sentences. Sometimes it was just simple prayers for strength to face a coming examination. But just hearing the example of Dr. Smedes' mother gave us a great message: we don't have to be well-versed, rehearsed, or in a certain position to be heard by God. If we start the day in communion with God -- even if it's from a rocking chair from the kitchen -- we will be better able to face what comes our way.
He had started the lecture by telling us about his daily devotional habit of praying, reading Scripture, and focusing on a specific passage to carry him through the day. It wasn't anything profound, but the way he said it spoke to us all. It was so simple and so honest. It was something we could emulate. We were impressed by his willingness to share a bit of his personal life.
Then he told us that we shouldn't be impressed one iota: he told us about his mother's prayer habit. It seems that when Dr. Smedes would come into the kitchen in the morning, his mother was already sitting in her rocking chair with her eyes closed, praying. She prayed aloud: for her family, her friends, her daily tasks, and whatever was on her heart. In fact, she poured her heart into her prayers: her morning prayers were the heart of her day and her life.
Dr. Smedes said that was the first thing he saw when the day began and it made a profound impression on his life. Dr. Smedes learned from his mother the importance of giving over everything to God in prayer. That was what should impress us he said.
Fortunately for us, classes at Fuller Seminary start with prayer. Professors and teaching assistants articulate their thoughts beautifully in front of the whole class. Words flow freely from their mouths as they offer prayers to God. Sometimes it would be like hearing poetry being read. Sometimes it would be complicated prayers with long sentences. Sometimes it was just simple prayers for strength to face a coming examination. But just hearing the example of Dr. Smedes' mother gave us a great message: we don't have to be well-versed, rehearsed, or in a certain position to be heard by God. If we start the day in communion with God -- even if it's from a rocking chair from the kitchen -- we will be better able to face what comes our way.
