Everything is prayer. The fourth shift in Matthew Kelly’s book I Heard God Laugh is to transform everything into prayer. That is, to define each task as a prayer.
“I’ll do that. I’ll look at everything as prayer from now on.” I told myself that I would dedicate tasks throughout the day to hold up people in prayer.
That was January. It’s almost April. I did that inconsistently for a few weeks. I didn’t record the recipients and tasks as he suggests.
The truth is, I don’t have a fixed schedule. I haven’t found a good retirement schedule yet. And, living in a new place at the start of the pandemic has added a bit of lonely chaos.
All that said, I want this habit. I believe transforming everything to prayer will transform my life.
How might I succeed in transforming everything to prayer?
A tangible record of task and prayer pairs is what I need. Something that keeps this intention visible. I’m afraid a simple daytimer will get set down, misplaced.
So, I’m gearing up, planning tasks, getting a notebook ready to receive notes on who or what is the recipient of each task/prayer alignment. And figuring out how I will stay committed to the habit.
Each new “soul habit” has taken me a bit to integrate, this one, more so than others. That surprises me, because I often pray for others. I thought it would be easy, even though Matthew Kelly talks about times of struggle and the importance of just showing up every day.
When I resist change that I am serious about, I look for creative ways to integrate that change. Creativity helps me learn. When I needed training to advance or learn new skills at work, I couldn’t afford in person classes. So, I would use online classes, such as SkillSoft, that I could do from home at night. And if I didn’t work somewhere that provided employees access to that, I would join a professional group that did. Each course consisted of multiple modules. And each course helped me prepare for certification exams. I didn’t have a lot of time, but learned to accomplish a lot in 20-30 minute time slots. I also write in 20-30 minute time slots, or sprints.
Some things, of course, require more time. Or, are already conscious times of prayer and worship.
So, with my “normal” pattern of sprints, I am guessing that I can find twenty sprints a day that I can transform into prayer.
How will I use creativity to reinforce this habit?
Each day I will create a pocket that I will use to hold notes on each task/sprint and for whom I offered it. And when the habit is learned and I have a collection of pockets, I will create a collage and hang it on my wall to remind me everyday that I can transform everything to prayer.
I’m inviting you along. Cheer me on, or try it in your own creative way with me. Tell me your ideas for learning the habit of transforming everything to prayer.
(Transformed to prayers of gratitude for Matthew Kelly, Allen Hunt, and Dynamic Catholic’s mission.)
Naked Soul Thoughts 