9 RE - Four circles of prayer

First Circle - Silence

• We need to find moments in our lives when the sound level drops
• Some think that 'silence' suggests boredom, fear, loneliness, and can just make people feel uncomfortable

• An old saying is 'Silence is golden', but it can be painful or frustrating

• For ourselves, we need to try and be comfortable with silence.

Task - list times that the noise levels drop in your life (at least 5).  Briefly explain where and when this happened and who was involved.

• Odd moments of silence such as this are not enough.  We need to seek times for silence, to seek space for silence in our daily lives.

• In silence, we can pause to draw breath, re-energise, encounter the mystery of the universe - a sunset, dew on grass…

• For a believer, these can be moments of prayer

Task - Experiment with different times in your day during which you can be silent for a few minutes (at least 3).  List these times and circumstances.

Second Circle - Changes

• Many people who make space for silence experiences changes in their lives.  They become more aware of what is happening around them, more able to appreciate and celebrate the ordinary things of life.
• Regular space for silence allows people to notice things they have never noticed before.
• They become more able to deal with anxiety, pain, loneliness, frustration, anger…
• They become more appreciative of and grateful for the world around them, flowers, birds…
• They become able to recognise that even ordinary things are reflections of mystery.

Task - Take space for silence and identify two things that you begin to appreciate in a different way.  Explain how you see them differently.  Consider your attitude before and after silent reflection.

Third Circle - Seeing

• During our space for silent time, we can replay things we have see/done since the last time we took time for silence.
• Our eyes and brain have been busy all the time registering much more than we would think.
• Experts say that we are so pre-occupied and busy with things, we only give attention to a small part of what our eyes see at any one time.  This is essential if we are to get things done.  But our eyes continue seeing much more and our brain sifts and sorts and stores them away for use at other times.  Our memory carefully files all our impressions, even those we have not been conscious of.

• We need to unlock these memories so that we can appreciate the wonder that pulses through the whole of creation, the wonder and fragility of each person and can really see ourselves and others.
• Sometimes when people try this, their minds go blank or some thoughts and worries distract them - maybe the distraction is floating around to remind them of something or someone that needs their prayers

Task - During your space for silence, ask God to unlock the memory of your eyes and spend time appreciating the little things that may go unnoticed, but are aspects of the wonders of the universe around us.  Try to really see yourself and others.  Describe the experience of attempting to unlock the memory of your eyes.  If anything distracted you, include this also.  What did you think and how did you feel?

Fourth Circle - Suffering

• Most suffering is hidden, lonely and silent.
• Some people can speak of their suffering, some cannot find the words to express it, some others long for someone to listen to them but don't know how to ask someone to listen.
• We know that in our world there is much pain and suffering but mostly this knowledge stays in our heads.  We don't feel the pain in our hearts.  This protects us because feeling the pain of others may challenge our own security and comfort - it is easier to change the channel or turn off the TV.
• Our prejudices also protect us as these block the cries of others and turn people into strangers.  It is easy to ignore a stranger.
• We all feel our own pain more than others' pain but someone, somehow always pays the price of our self-centredness. (Mum has a headache but I am more concerned about my fight with a friend, so I ignore Mum.  She pays the price for my self-centredness as I do not help her when she needs it)

• Behind the suffering in our world are real people

• How can we take the pain and suffering of others into our prayer and into our lives?
• We can spend time in our prayer for those who are suffering, open our eyes to the cry of strangers - we can use our imagination.

Task - Spend time in your space for silence and ask God to help you open the eyes of your mind.  Ask God to help you recognise your prejudices.  Ask God to help you see the needs of others, to open your heart to the stranger, whether nearby or far away.  Try to imagine what it must be like to be hungry, alone, bullied, afraid...Reach out to the person in your prayer.  Write about your experience - about any prejudice you recognised in yourself, about people you were drawn to pray for, how you felt…

Remember, this is not something you can do overnight - spend time over the next week to immerse yourself in your silent spaces and experience the different circles of prayer.