It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of, what I’ve dubbed the most extraordinary spiritual rantist, Anne Lamott.  The woman can turn a phrase and set my preconceived notions in motion and more often than not kick them to the curb.  Her many books are all permanently embedded in my Kindle to be called up at a moment’s notice because, well life happens and sometimes you need a more grounded perspective. Ms. Lamott would throw her head back and laugh at that.

Help, Thanks, Wow:  The Three Essential Prayers is one of those go-to tomes (can you call a book a tome if it’s on your IPad?)   “…So prayer is our sometimes real selves trying to communicate with the Real, with Truth, with the Light. It is us reaching out to be heard, hoping to be found by a light and warmth in the world, instead of darkness and cold. Even mushrooms respond to light – I suppose they blink their mushroomy eyes, like the rest of us…”

I have a friend who calls herself an atheist but I swear she prays because her use of the word Wow is reverent.  It’s in response to injustices and fabulously joyous moments alike. When she uses the word Wow it is either preceded or followed by the word, really! Or really??? I know she’s not praying to a God or any type of deity but damn it sounds like prayer.

The definition of prayer is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship.  However, it is also an earnest hope or wish. Period. No Gods or deities in sight.

So if Help, Thanks and Wow are prayers can a Sigh be a prayer?  If it’s not about who you’re praying to and it’s about the prayer itself, can’t that be so?  I find a sigh is so spontaneous.  It seems to come from a deep place, an exhale with benefits so to speak.  It’s a tiny relief valve, a surrender to what appears to be something that requires much more thought.

I had the pleasure of spending time with one of my nearest and dearest people over this weekend.  She is at once grounded and other worldly.  Her reach is right into my heart and we could talk for hours on any and all subjects. Time spent with her is peaceful, heartfelt and kind. She exudes grace.

“But grace can be the experience of a second wind, when even though what you want is clarity and resolution, what you get is stamina and poignancy and the strength to hang on.” 

This we do for each other. When she left a sigh escaped me.

In the end everyone needs some mechanism to accompany their earnest hope or wish.  In any number of given situations a word or a sound may escape, with or without you knowing it. To me those are indeed prayers.

THANKS have a good week.