Downhill Praying

I set out for my hills run Saturday morning. Down a long hill, across a valley, up a longer hill. Turn around and come back: down, across, up. As I began, I remembered advice from when I began running 25 years ago:

You're not running too fast if you can carry on a conversation.

I chuckled. I normally run alone. Then I heard myself ask aloud, "Why not talk with God?"

I headed down the hill into the canyon--hardly Grand--and began to say the prayers I've said just about every morning for almost as long as I've been running.

I said them aloud. Not shouting but surely not whispering. Sometimes the words fell in rhythm with my stride. Sometimes my breath measured the words.

Prayers are personal. They are also wonderful gifts to share. I love learning how others voice thanks and thoughts, wants and wishes, celebrations and sorrows. I share the basic prayers I said running down that hill:

• Thank you, God, for life and life's blessings.
• Thank you. God, for the joys in my life.
• Thank you. God, for the successes in my life.
• Thank you, God, for the love in my life.
• Thank you, God, for the people in my life.
• Thank you, God, for my physical strength, for my mental energy, and for my spiritual growth.
• Thank you, God, for blessing this moment and for this moment's blessings.

Each of those is just an opener. Each often gets expanded by what I've recently enjoyed and am grateful for. At the bottom of the hill, I'd only prayed this much. I looked up the hill ahead and decided I'd need my breath. I would finish praying on the way back down.

So I ran the 20 minutes uphill silently. Yet the prayers I'd already said rang and sang in my mind. The uphill run was easier, even a little faster, than usual.

I got to the top. I turned started back down the hill, to cross the valley and run up the other side. I began the rest of my prayers.

• Thank you, God, for all that I have, all that I enjoy, all that I am, and all that I am becoming.
• Thank you, God, that who I am is the possibility that creativity, energy, and humor make a difference to others.

• Thank you, God, for blessing me indeed. Thank you that your hand is with me and that you keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain. (Prayer of Jabez)

• May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my friend and my protector. (Psalm 19)

I finished those prayers--with their special additions for the day--just as I reached the bottom.

As I started to climb the hill I'd run down 30 minutes before, I decided to add a prayer...

• Thank you, God, for helping me pray the next time I run up your hills.