Praying On The Edge Of A Lake
Photo by Mohamed Nohassi on Unsplash
Prayer Reminds Us Of The Life-Giving God Dwelling In Our Chaos
by Eric Elkin
“Those who dwell on the far edges
stand in awe of your acts.
You make the gateways
of morning and evening sing for joy.”
A picture on Facebook posted by a friend caught my attention. At first, I thought it a stock photo found on the internet, the kind which comes with some manufactured inspirational saying. However, the words my friend posted describing the picture revealed this image was neither manufactured nor trite.
In the picture, a woman stands on the edge of a lake. Her arms are spread wide with her hands lifted up to the sky. The sun is crowning her head. Her body is a faceless silhouette looking at a sunrise.
In the post, my friend described waking up before dawn to go out to get the newspaper. The early morning sky compelled him to drive down to Lake Michigan to watch the sunrise.
Once there, he happened upon this woman standing in the darkness looking out over the lake. They talked two strangers in the dark on the edge of a lake guided by some common impulse. The woman said she was there to greet the dawn, to pray for others, and to praise God for this new day.
The picture reveals her idea of prayer is not subtle or private. Her prayer is physically demonstrative. Looking at the image, I assume the words she spoke did not remain confined to her thoughts. I imagine her speaking the words of her prayer and praise out loud. Something she would have done had my friend been there or not.
“I’m a religious woman. And I feel I have responsibility. I have no modesty at all. I’m even afraid of it - it’s a learned affectation and it’s just stuck on me like decals. Now I pray for humility because that comes from inside out.”
What kind of person wakes up to worship the sun, pray for others, and praise God for a new day? Even if we know such a person, they usually keep those kinds of thoughts to themselves while sitting quietly on a bench. Few people I know are so public with their prayer posture. Yet, I find this morning the image of her remains deep in my soul and gives me comfort.
This morning in St. Paul, Minnesota, rain continues to soak an already saturated land. The weight of the water will pull the colorfully dying leaves off the tree. The beauty of fall color will give way to empty branches and the dullness of approaching winter.
The rain will make the commute for those who wake before dawn to go to work slow and frustrating. Cars will be lined up bumper to bumper moving at a snail's pace. I can only imagine the intensity of the anxiety felt by the drivers. Soon I will join them on the I-494 bridge. Our thoughts will not be about others or praise to God for this new day.
I think this is why this image remains with me. Somewhere on the far edges of the lake in Wisconsin, a lone woman prayed for me, and I don't even know her. She was not just praying for me, but all those who need the glory of a new day created and crafted by God. I hope when I think of her, it reminds me to place my burdens on God and not my own shoulders.
Psalm 65 reminds us the chaos of the world is not all that powerful. Dwelling in our chaos is a God who is gracious, merciful, and life-giving. This God grants calm to those who desperately need it. So today, I am thankful for a friend who followed an impulse and shared the encounter with the world.
Click to read Psalm 65
Reflection Questions:
Have you ever gone out to greet the new day with prayer for others and praise of God ?
How would you describe the experience?
When has someone prayed for you? And, how did it make you feel?
Have you ever consistently prayed for someone you did not know?
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