I love this close reading of the psalm and the way you tie it into the fight with depression.
I often get caught up in perfectionism. If I can't pray the entire hour and do everything properly, why bother? But when I can tell myself, I will at least pray one psalm, one verse of a psalm, then I might not pray the whole hour, but I will have prayed.
Of course by this point, having been trying to pray the Liturgy of the Hours for more than twenty years, I have a lot of bits and pieces memorized and often I can pray those bits from memory, even if I can't bring myself to open the book or the app.
The canticles were such a comfort to me and a lifeline during my c-section surgeries. And when I was going through a really rough patch a friend sent me the link to the Sing the Hours podcast and I found that when I couldn't bring myself to pray, I could at least open the app and hit play and let the prayers wash over me. It might not be *good* prayer by most people's definitions, but it's better than the prayers that weren't happening.
Small, imperfect, attempts at prayer-- and sometimes I've lingered there too long, even when I'm sure I could push myself to pray a little more, a little better. But I do love falling asleep to the sound of the Psalms being sung, it's the best lullaby ever.
Thank you so much. Whatever else anyone can pray in a day, they should great each morning saying *This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.* And sometimes silence is the best prayer.
I didn't know about that podcast. I'll have to check it.
I’m so profoundly grateful for this post. I haven’t been able to pray much at all for weeks. At first I prayed “Jesus and Mary take care of me because I can’t.” I’m lucky if I get out a Glory be when I wake up. Sometimes it’s “Jesus you’ve gotta do this. I can’t.” There’s powerful grace at work here. I’m not praying much, but I’m praying real. As real as it gets. Just wanted to tell someone. Thanks.
I love this close reading of the psalm and the way you tie it into the fight with depression.
I often get caught up in perfectionism. If I can't pray the entire hour and do everything properly, why bother? But when I can tell myself, I will at least pray one psalm, one verse of a psalm, then I might not pray the whole hour, but I will have prayed.
Of course by this point, having been trying to pray the Liturgy of the Hours for more than twenty years, I have a lot of bits and pieces memorized and often I can pray those bits from memory, even if I can't bring myself to open the book or the app.
The canticles were such a comfort to me and a lifeline during my c-section surgeries. And when I was going through a really rough patch a friend sent me the link to the Sing the Hours podcast and I found that when I couldn't bring myself to pray, I could at least open the app and hit play and let the prayers wash over me. It might not be *good* prayer by most people's definitions, but it's better than the prayers that weren't happening.
Small, imperfect, attempts at prayer-- and sometimes I've lingered there too long, even when I'm sure I could push myself to pray a little more, a little better. But I do love falling asleep to the sound of the Psalms being sung, it's the best lullaby ever.
Thank you so much. Whatever else anyone can pray in a day, they should great each morning saying *This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.* And sometimes silence is the best prayer.
I didn't know about that podcast. I'll have to check it.
I’m so profoundly grateful for this post. I haven’t been able to pray much at all for weeks. At first I prayed “Jesus and Mary take care of me because I can’t.” I’m lucky if I get out a Glory be when I wake up. Sometimes it’s “Jesus you’ve gotta do this. I can’t.” There’s powerful grace at work here. I’m not praying much, but I’m praying real. As real as it gets. Just wanted to tell someone. Thanks.
I am sorry to hear this. I will add you to my office tomorrow.