Paying Attention As Prayer: Sunsets and The Shema

Simone Weil once wrote that “attention, taken to its highest degree, is the same thing as prayer.” This week, I saw a sky so beautiful I couldn’t help but stop and notice. It felt as if God were trying to get my attention. That moment reminded me that one of the simplest prayers we can offer requires only a pause—and the choice to pay attention.

I was at school for an evening show and stepped out onto the piazza overlooking Ocean Beach. On too many days, the view is swallowed by fog. But when the sky is clear, it is downright magical. That evening, I realized we were experiencing one of those rare late-Fall sunsets—San Francisco’s version of summer magic. I captured the moment on film, hoping to invite my students to see sunsets like this not only as moments to notice, but as an invitation to pray.

I have written about paying attention as a spiritual discipline before. It resonates with people because it's  not overly pious. It's not difficult and it requires little time and no money. Anyone can pray this prayer. I have found that being outside and gazing at nature is an ideal environment and queue for this prayer.

I first came to this realization when I was playing golf with my good friend Charlie on the Ocean Course at the Half Moon Ritz Carlton. Our 1:00 p.m. tee time meant that we were on the 17th tee box as the sun was setting. Though the majority of hotel guests were walking the grounds to take in the view—an infinite horizon against the Pacific Ocean, I easily could have kept my sights on finishing our round in a timely manner. Not Charlie. He told me that he wanted to take in what his eyes could behold. I said "Charlie, let's bring it in. I'm good." He didn't listen to me; I'm so glad. Instead, he paused, looked from north to south at the western sky and kept silent. He let the sunset speak for itself. 

Ever since that day, I have made a point of taking a prayerful pause when I golf and see a beautiful sight. Honestly, I make an effort to behold a majestic tree, a clear sky, a rising moon or a setting sun. Yes, golfers spend a good chunk of time outside so interactions with nature and opportunities to pay attention to it abound, but I invite other athletes to do the same. The requirement is no different: pay attention.

For example, I attended the WCAL III XC meet at Crystal Springs. Rain had passed through earlier, and by the time the athletes lined up for the 2.95-mile course, the sky had opened—revealing vistas so breathtaking that everyone there, runners and spectators alike, couldn’t help but look up, out, and beyond to savor the moment. I know they did—because I told more than a few of them to do just that.

The purpose of this post however, is to offer a call to action that goes beyond simply paying attention. To borrow from Eric Liddell, the Scottish gold medalist and subject of Chariots of Fire: “I want you to do more than just watch a race.” I want you to pray. How might we do that?

When beauty catches your attention, pause and say, “Thank you, God.” As Anne Lamott might put it, simply say “thanks” and “wow.” Offer those words, too. How often does the Creator get credit for what has been created? I suspect the answer is “never enough.”

Since early October, I have been teaching RS201, Christology. Sophomores are learning about the Jesus of History, the Christ of Faith. In reading the Gospel we learn that before his public ministry began, Jesus was baptized and He was tempted in the desert. Richard Rohr writes

Jesus is the master of spiritual discernment here, which is always much more subtle and particular than mere obedience to external laws. Note that Jesus quotes no moral commandments here, but only wisdom texts from Deuteronomy.

The book of Deuteronomy contains the Shema, a central declaration of faith, meant to anchor daily life in awareness of God. Jews are called to offer this prayer twice daily, in the morning and evening. I absolutely love this prayer practice. It is foundational and formative. It is easy to pray.

As a faithful Jew, we can assume Jesus offered this prayer every morning and evening. While we don't know if he prayed the Shema when he was tempted by the devil, we do know that he called on the wisdom teaching of His faith to keep him strong. Time and again in his life, he called upon the Father—God—for help. We are always invited to do the same.

Our prayers to God need not always be in supplication.We can pay attention and when we do, we can give thanks. We can praise God. We can show appreciation and send our love. 

Mary Pipher has written "attention is the purest form of love." God who is love, pays attention to us. As a way to show our love to God, let us pay attention to  beauty, creation and one another. Amen.

Photo Credits
Shema
Eric Liddell