Love is an active prayer
As an active teenager who sometimes struggles to find the patience to sit down and pray, I like the idea that I can pray while being active. But it wasn’t until I was biking through Acadia National Park that I was able to put this form of prayer into practice.
This bike trip with a group of other teenage Christian Scientists was one of the most fun experiences of my life. I zoomed along at twenty miles per hour, saw beautiful lakes, and biked hands-free around twisty roads. However, when I attempted to brake on a gravel section of the road, I fell. I got cuts and bruises on my legs and hands—the worst of which were two gashes on my right palm.
I was immediately hit with fear. I had been having so much fun, and now that fun seemed to be over because of my injuries. How was I supposed to enjoy the rest of my trip?
I had been having so much fun and now that fun seemed to be over because of my injuries. How was I supposed to enjoy the rest of my trip?
As I clambered back onto my bike, I couldn’t grip the handle with my right hand. Then, suddenly, I was struck with gratitude.
Bigger than my fear was my gratitude to be in a park that I’d never visited before. I was grateful for the group I was with and the opportunity to spend time with them. I was grateful for all the fun I’d had during the trip so far and all the exciting things I’d been looking forward to for the rest of it. Because gratitude is giving thanks for good, and good comes from God, gratitude is really an active way of praying.
After a few moments of thinking this way, I found that I could hold the handlebars better. Eventually, I was back up and biking with everyone else, having a great time despite the pain.
When we arrived at the end of the trail, I was walking to the restroom to wash off the dirt and gravel from my fall when someone from the group asked me for help with an issue that they were having. Instead of focusing on the pain in my hand, I directed toward this friend the love from God I was feeling, along with my gratitude. I was so grateful for my friend and supported them the best that I could by praying.
When I was finally able to wash my hands, I noticed that most of the cuts on my hand were already gone without any sign that they’d ever been there. The few remaining cuts and bruises healed quickly and painlessly over the next few days.
Instead of focusing on the pain in my hand, I directed toward my friend the love from God I was feeling, along with my gratitude.
Later, I came across this passage from a book called No and Yes by Mary Baker Eddy that helped me better understand and learn from this healing. Mrs. Eddy writes, “True prayer is not asking God for love; it is learning to love, and to include all mankind in one affection” (p. 39). If I had been so focused on my own injuries that I hadn’t taken the time to express to someone else the love that comes from God, who is Love itself, this healing might not have happened so quickly.
This experience helped me realize the importance of getting out of myself and making love a part of my prayers. By actively turning outward and expressing God’s love to others, it’s possible to experience healing.
