Prayer is often so much about searching – at least for me it feels this way. There’s a sense that the answers to my questions are there, not hidden exactly, but waiting to be found, if I’ll only take the time, explore, or just wait quietly, wonder and ponder a little. Not everyone enjoys wondering so much. I suppose they’d be the ones scrambling down the rock face, instead of sitting on the bench in Violet’s Lookout painting below.

When Violet sent me her painting this week to respond with a poem, I pondered a little, mentally sitting on that bench! I took out my notebook and stared at the blank page, put it aside and tried again the next day. A magnificent vista can be a little overwhelming too. There’s so much there it’s hard to take it all in. Prayer can also be like this when we remember that Almighty God is expanse, height, depth, breadth…magnificence – how does one begin a conversation? And then, it’s like God places an inviting bench in front of us saying, “You don’t have to take it all in today. There’s time to talk, to wonder, to ponder and listen for me voice. Stop for awhile. Come back as often as you like.”

As I stared at the blank notebook page meant for the new poem, I looked over at the previous page and there were some questions I had jotted down in response to an author’s devotional suggestion. This was my lookout bench, the place to begin. And it began with the reverse question – if I’m sitting on the bench looking out for God, can God see me sitting here on the bench? Where are you beginning your conversation with God on this day in the middle of Lent? You don’t have to get answers for everything today. Sit for a while, or scramble down the rocks for an open-air conversation with the Almighty.

Open-air Prayer

when you look out
Can you see me?
Do you have time?
for a quiet conversation
Will you help me?
shoulder the burden
heft the cross
or take it away
I often get it wrong
am angry and hurt others
get so discouraged that I
drift doubt despair fail
and that’s just me
there’s the whole world too
How does your love cover it all?
Do you have time later?
for a loud conversation

when I wander home
Can you send a heron?
or seven if you want
as a hopeful sign
Can I see you?
just a glimpse would be enough
for now

until then Holy–Panorama–
Present–One, I’m here
on the lookout for you
Amen.

© 2021 Laurel Archer all rights reserved

Title: The Lookout
Artist: Violet Nesdoly
Watercolour and pen on Winsor & Newton 100% cotton, cold press watercolour paper, 9×12 inches.