A Walk with Teacher

I went to Teacher

Humbly admitting

“I don’t know how to pray.”

Then I waited for the wise instruction

I knew would surely come.

But, “Walk with me,” Teacher said

Leading me into the spring day.

We wandered through the forest.

Teacher was silent, thinking deeply, I was certain,

On what to tell me,

How best to teach me to pray.

I relaxed into the softness of the day.

We stopped to watch a spider spin a web

Then walked on, laughing as chipmunks scattered.

After a time, Teacher led me back.

It was then I understood

Teacher didn’t know how to pray either.

As I turned to go

I thanked Teacher for the time

And for the beauty of the woodland stroll.

I said I had enjoyed

Listening to the wind in the trees.

“Yes,” Teacher said, “I enjoyed that too.

It was a good prayer, wasn’t it?”

“But we said no prayer,” I complained.

Teacher smiled and said:

“We enjoyed the passage of our feet on the earth

And are thankful for the memory of it.

We await with eagerness what will come next

Having heard God’s voice all about us.

Indeed, I have taught you my very best prayer.”