Prayer as Communion, Reflection, and Embodied Attentiveness

How does prayer affect your relationship with God? When Duke University researchers analyzed audio recordings of ordinary people’s daily prayers, they found that expressions of gratitude were common. Even more, individuals who expressed more gratitude than usual reported feeling closer to God—and had more positive spontaneous thoughts about prayer. ⁱ

Talking to God can also reshape how we see—and feel about—life. This study found that just two weeks of praying the Prayer of Examen helped clergy experience more meaning in life, life satisfaction, and hope. It also increased their mindfulness and compassion and reduced their stress, anxiety, and depression. ⁱⁱ

Christians from different traditions throughout history and around the world have used a variety of physical aids to prayer. These include what can be seen (crucifixes), heard (bells), smelled (incense), tasted (communion), and felt (prayer beads). This investigation reveals that praying the rosary with prayer beads calms the body and focuses attention. ⁱⁱⁱ

i.   My friend Professor Mark Nelson (he’s also OK being called “Dr. Mark Nelson”) teaches his students to combat ‘gratitude fatigue’ by getting creatively granular with their gratitude–gratitude for the fingers on my right hand, perhaps, or the waves at Leadbetter’s Beach, or that I can wink at people.

ii.   Years ago, when my wife had some bad news to tell me, she prefaced it with: “I need you to respond to this with your thinker hat on and not your feeler hat.” Examen prayer is usually that way. There is a time to feel pain over what I have done wrong. But generally I will be able to see more clearly if I’m not overwhelmed by negative emotions.

iii.   You’re probably wondering: “Where can I buy some FORMATION prayer beads from BecomeNew?” Keep watching those pop-up ads.