{"id":8363,"date":"2012-03-29T06:18:21","date_gmt":"2012-03-29T11:18:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/?p=8363"},"modified":"2013-01-01T19:04:33","modified_gmt":"2013-01-02T00:04:33","slug":"when-prayer-time-is-a-bust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/when-prayer-time-is-a-bust\/","title":{"rendered":"When Prayer Time is a Bust (my recent dud)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>All the ingredients were there for a splendid time of reflection, worship, and prayer. A beautiful unseasonably warm day, new blossoms, and a perfect metaphor for life: A Prayer Labyrinth.<\/p>\n<p>It didn&#8217;t help.<\/p>\n<p>I felt restless and distracted. Yes, I could appreciate the goodness surrounding me. I could also grasp the spiritual significance of the nearby metaphors and analogies. Yet, I didn&#8217;t have a time of felt connection with God. The word &#8220;dud&#8221; comes to mind. I didn&#8217;t get the experience I thought I would; and it all seemed ordinary and uninspired.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some images I took during my time there. You have to admit, it was a delightful scene.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-8363 gallery-columns-5 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/when-prayer-time-is-a-bust\/90827dc6-678d-45cd-92f8-294e9e1cb66a\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/90827DC6-678D-45CD-92F8-294E9E1CB66A-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/90827DC6-678D-45CD-92F8-294E9E1CB66A-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/90827DC6-678D-45CD-92F8-294E9E1CB66A-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/90827DC6-678D-45CD-92F8-294E9E1CB66A-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/when-prayer-time-is-a-bust\/332bfdca-af8c-4db5-9f08-02abbf0261aa\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/332BFDCA-AF8C-4DB5-9F08-02ABBF0261AA-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/332BFDCA-AF8C-4DB5-9F08-02ABBF0261AA-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/332BFDCA-AF8C-4DB5-9F08-02ABBF0261AA-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/332BFDCA-AF8C-4DB5-9F08-02ABBF0261AA-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/when-prayer-time-is-a-bust\/1c9c5f51-55c0-4fe1-8a2b-64d8e4d89adf\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/1C9C5F51-55C0-4FE1-8A2B-64D8E4D89ADF-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/1C9C5F51-55C0-4FE1-8A2B-64D8E4D89ADF-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/1C9C5F51-55C0-4FE1-8A2B-64D8E4D89ADF-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/1C9C5F51-55C0-4FE1-8A2B-64D8E4D89ADF-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/when-prayer-time-is-a-bust\/86631a03-901f-46c2-b87a-b7eb9a31b58a\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/86631A03-901F-46C2-B87A-B7EB9A31B58A-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/86631A03-901F-46C2-B87A-B7EB9A31B58A-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/86631A03-901F-46C2-B87A-B7EB9A31B58A-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/86631A03-901F-46C2-B87A-B7EB9A31B58A-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/when-prayer-time-is-a-bust\/a56c04a2-8eec-4b1c-ac3a-f44eef96d88d\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/A56C04A2-8EEC-4B1C-AC3A-F44EEF96D88D-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/A56C04A2-8EEC-4B1C-AC3A-F44EEF96D88D-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/A56C04A2-8EEC-4B1C-AC3A-F44EEF96D88D-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/A56C04A2-8EEC-4B1C-AC3A-F44EEF96D88D-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/when-prayer-time-is-a-bust\/a1135279-e39d-473d-961b-d2fe723e9044\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/A1135279-E39D-473D-961B-D2FE723E9044-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/A1135279-E39D-473D-961B-D2FE723E9044-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/A1135279-E39D-473D-961B-D2FE723E9044-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/A1135279-E39D-473D-961B-D2FE723E9044-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/when-prayer-time-is-a-bust\/27c4dd75-6862-4eee-ba8b-fe29d8c313c8\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/27C4DD75-6862-4EEE-BA8B-FE29D8C313C8-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/27C4DD75-6862-4EEE-BA8B-FE29D8C313C8-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/27C4DD75-6862-4EEE-BA8B-FE29D8C313C8-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/27C4DD75-6862-4EEE-BA8B-FE29D8C313C8-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/when-prayer-time-is-a-bust\/cf30fe22-6523-468b-b14a-24f041b0c386\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/CF30FE22-6523-468B-B14A-24F041B0C386-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/CF30FE22-6523-468B-B14A-24F041B0C386-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/CF30FE22-6523-468B-B14A-24F041B0C386-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/CF30FE22-6523-468B-B14A-24F041B0C386-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/when-prayer-time-is-a-bust\/71fcb13f-ca74-4e05-8abd-00637664fc5b\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/71FCB13F-CA74-4E05-8ABD-00637664FC5B-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/71FCB13F-CA74-4E05-8ABD-00637664FC5B-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/71FCB13F-CA74-4E05-8ABD-00637664FC5B-200x200.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/71FCB13F-CA74-4E05-8ABD-00637664FC5B-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><strong>What this means:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Just a few thoughts&#8230;maybe you have some ideas too.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If God is a person (&#8230;is a Being, not just an impersonal Force, but rather has a personality, and is capable of relationship), then I really can&#8217;t expect God to follow a predictable formula like he is a math equation.<\/p>\n<p>My other relationships function in a similar way. They aren&#8217;t clear cut and palpable. They are more opaque and protean.\u00a0I wonder if God switches things up precisely so we don&#8217;t depersonalize him, (among other reasons, I&#8217;m sure).<\/p>\n<p>In biblical narrative this rings true. The Hebrews are rescued by God in a different manner almost each time. Sometimes it was pitchers smashing that started the process, other times horns and shouting. Sometimes it was just typical military tactics.<\/p>\n<p>I was okay with the fact that the spiritually nourishing experience I had at the Jesuit Retreat Center was nothing like my (seeming) dud of a prayer experience this time. In the past it might have felt like abandonment. I might have seconded guessed myself, or my God. I see the nuances now, perhaps. I can still believe God is there, and God is good, even when I don&#8217;t sense God&#8217;s presence. It would be the same way with a dear friend, or my spouse. If I had a blah sort of time with a friend, I wouldn&#8217;t jump to the conclusion that the friendship didn&#8217;t exist. If I didn&#8217;t sense my husband was in the house, I wouldn&#8217;t assume we weren&#8217;t married.<\/p>\n<p><strong>When was a time when God didn&#8217;t show up when you thought God would?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a previous post explaining a <a href=\"http:\/\/wp.me\/p1g2iA-1aw\">prayer labyrinth.<\/a>\u00a0Have you ever used one?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230;the spiritually nourishing experience I had at the Jesuit Retreat Center was nothing like my (seeming) dud of a prayer experience this time&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[4753,1472,6538,55,5600,5601,60,2831,6109,5602,74,3197,75,3212,85,3505,91],"class_list":["post-8363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spirituality","tag-dry","tag-god","tag-humor","tag-nature","tag-payer-labyrinth","tag-person-of-god","tag-prayer","tag-relationship","tag-sgb","tag-silent-god","tag-spiritual-growth","tag-spiritual-guidance","tag-spiritual-practices","tag-spring","tag-theology","tag-trinity","tag-worship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8363"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11120,"href":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8363\/revisions\/11120"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lisadelay.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}