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

Lent: A Personal Post-Season Evaluation

We are called to be Easter people. We live in the light of the Risen Lord. The purple and gray that once draped a Lenten church is no more. Today, it shines brightly in white and gold. Lillies line the altar. Overnight, a transformation has taken place. Eastertide is upon us, a celebration of 50 days and yet, I can't help but look back. Maybe I shouldn't. In the words of Bruce Springsteen, I find myself "caught in a crossfire that I don't understand." —Badlands.

Lent is more than 40 days. To me, it is long. It's hard; it's heavy. With Easter Sunday, I know  we find a new freedom —we have been released from the burden of sin— but to make that switch overnight is tough. Am I the only one who feels this way? I guess I would have walked to the empty tomb. Like Mary, Peter and John, I would go— but I might pace and space myself to get there.

I don't want to stay in Lent any longer than necessary. Truly, I want to live as an Easter person. I just need some help. I decided a Lenten debrief, also known as a post-season evaluation might assist me in my efforts. Time to turn the page!

As a teacher and a coach, as someone who has worked in an athletic department and now works in an office of Adult Spirituality, evaluations are not new to me. In fact, I had a professor who found them to be as essential as the event/experience/course itself. She helped me understand why they are important—even if but a few people complete them. She taught me how to craft effective ones, how to read the information and what to do with all of it. Thank you, Adrian!

The discipline of creating and completing an evaluation allows the organizer to consider their hopes and expectations. They invite personal input and commentary. They help you identify strengths and weaknesses—aka areas of growth. My athletes completed one at the end of every season. I figured with this mentality, Why not create one for Lent? 

Much like an athletic season or team, each Lent is different. Some Lents are harder than others. I participate and commit myself to practices of my faith. Each one is intentional and formative. Some require sacrifice, others mindfulness. Some of Lenten practices have changed me forever. In order for me to be an Easter season, I need to get a sense of what has changed... How has Abba Father shaped me in a new way, Am I more Christ-like—am I move loving? forgiving? How do I resist temptation? 

Let these questions serve as the introduction of your own post-Lenten season evaluation. Consider the others I have listed here.

• Describe the change you were hoping for this Lent. How has that change transpired? How has it changed course into something new?
  
  
• Did you share your Lenten journey with anyone? Make plans to have a conversation with a good friend to discuss how it went.
  
  
• You may have started Lent with an idea of the path you were hoping to take to Easter. It's likely that path changed. Did it? What were the graces? What were the missed opportunities?
  
  
• What practices during Lent might you like to keep through the Easter season?
  
  
• In what ways did you incorporate mindful silence into your day? 
  
  
• Who did you write to this Lent? Remember these people in your prayers. Who do you want to reach out to?
  
  
• One of the pillars of Lent is giving alms. In what ways do you plan to continue giving to the poor this Easter season?

Like any effective evaluation, complete this personal inventory / reflection guide within a week of Easter Sunday. 

You won't receive a certificate, a block or a trophy for having completed Lent. I do believe however, the growth and gifts emerge quietly, gracefully and joyfully in the Easter season...and beyond. I hope this post-season evaluation offers insight into all of that, plus more.

Happy Easter. Truly, He is Risen. Alleluia!

Photo Credits
Cookie
Cross
Eval

Spiritual Time Out

Perhaps you felt this way after watching 5 hours and 53 minutes of incredible tennis at the 2012 Australian Open men’s final, but standing inside American Airlines Arena in Miami last March, I could hardly believe what I just saw. In just 15 seconds time, the Heat extended their 16-point lead over the San Antonio Spurs to 20-points with dramatic and dazzling back-to-back slam-dunks.

Dwayne Wade brought the ball down the floor only to pass behind and to his left to LeBron James. LeBron single-handedly stuffed the ball inside the basket with a right hook that hung in the air for close to a third of those 15 seconds?! Just moments later, Wade’s keen defense and quick hands stole the ball and again he was off and running to the basket. Wade kept the ball and as he slam-dunked it, he brought down the house with it.

In that moment, the Spurs did what they had to do. They called a time out.

I don’t know of another sport that relies on or reveals momentum more palpably than basketball. The timeout, be it a full or a thirty second timeout, is critical as both an offensive and defensive strategy to control it. The Heat were up and their spirits soaring; their adrenaline kicked in. Players were giving one another looks and finding each other all over the hardwood. The Spurs however, needed to regroup and refocus. They needed to return to the game with another plan of action and a fresh mindset. It was, for them, a time out well spent.

I have given a lot of thought to the power of the timeout since that time. As I watched the Forty-Niners battle the New York Giants, I had my eyes fixed on the number of time outs remaining. Watching the longest grand slam final in tennis history today, I thought of how much Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic could have used a time out after many demanding, lengthy rallies. Tennis players have “time” every other game as they switch sides, but there is no way to officially take a break during the play of the match. Because of that, it’s difficult for a player to control the speed and momentum of the game.

Fortunately, in life, most of the time we can take a time out. Children know those two words all too well as a means of discipline. But the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation revealed to me another perspective–the spiritual timeout.

I don’t remember what I was confessing—how convenient, no? but in our conversation about how I wish I had been more loving and patient, kind and empathetic, the priest counseled me well. He told me when I confront that ever-so-brief but real moment as I am tempted to sin, I should call a spiritual time out.

For example, if I am arguing with my sister and it's gaining momentum, I know exactly what I can say that will “push her buttons.” I am more than aware of the words that will hurt her. This is exactly when I should take a spiritual time out. Maybe it will call me to breathe deeply, maybe it will help me weigh my options—is it really worth it? Maybe it’s to gather the strength to do what is more loving. The spiritual timeout can help me refocus and in the words of the Church to live the words of the Gospel and sin no more.

My next posting will be about failure. In this life we will fail—be it in a basketball game, on the tennis court and in our relationships with one another and God. We all need tools to succeed, learn and grow to improve and excel. I hope what Father Stephen Maria once told me in the confessional is but one tool for you to consider.

Photo Credits
Wade Dunk
LeBron Dunk
American Airlines Arena

Personal Inventory: Sports & Spirituality

The prayer of St. Ignatius calls us to “give and not to count the cost.” This beautiful prayer of generosity is challenging for most people, but I believe most especially for sports fans. Why? Sports fans love counting. It would be hard to find a single Pittsburgh Steeler fan today who isn’t counting the cost of yards, carries, personal fouls, turnovers, in this loss to the Baltimore Ravens. At the very least we know both teams knew how “to fight and not to heed the wounds.” What a great game!

We sports fans are no strangers to numbers and how they add up—from rankings, magic numbers, AP polls, betting lines, numbers on jerseys, retired numbers, seeds in tourneys, numbers of championships, titles and more, numbers are more than a marking in a win or loss column. To say that numbers can be sacred in sports is not an overstatement. And, so the symbiosis begins.

"Sports and Spirituality" is most successful when one can draw from our own experiences as an athlete or a sports fan to think more concretely about our spiritual life. And in the same way that not all athletic disciplines need be tedious, challenging or painful, nor should those in the spiritual life.

Hence I created a “personal inventory” to help you take stock of the experiences in both domains that stand out, that have shaped you as the person you are and are proven highlights in your life. I hope this “light” discipline will reveal some insight of the Lord’s coaching, leading and guiding along the way. Besides we already know God doesn’t play favorites on football Saturdays…but His Mother does.

Personal Inventory: Sports

1. My favorite sport to watch is….
2. My favorite sport to play is…
3. My favorite athlete is….
4. My least favorite athlete is….
5. My favorite sports team is…
6. A sport I know very little about but would like to learn more is….
7. The most memorable sports event I have attended is…
8. I have read a great book about sports. It is…
9. I have seen a great movie about sports. It is….
10. The best athlete in all of sports is….

Personal Inventory: Spirituality

1. A good parish/faith community I am familiar with…
2. My favorite prayer is…
3. My favorite Saint/saint is….
4. My favorite spiritual discipline is…
5. A faith tradition I know very little about but would like to learn more is….
6. The most liturgical event I have attended is…
7. I have read a great book about spirituality….
8. I have seen a great movie about spirituality….
9. An interesting religious studies/theology course I have taken is…
10. A religious leader I admire greatly is…

If you have your own question that would like to share, please post e.g. "The hardest thing about being a sports fan for me is?" For the Eagles' fan who wrote that, other Eagles' fans probably know the answer.

Photo credits
USC vs. ND
Spiritual Discipline