Mar
21
Written by:
SNT
3/21/2009 2:44 PM
I'm now on the prayer team at Emmaus. I'm not exactly sure if that is what it's called but the concept goes like this: each Sunday during communion and the last few songs of the service, there are a few people available to pray with others in the congregation. An announcement is made before communion - "If you want prayer, there will be a few people available under the popup tent in the back."
This week was only my second week under the popup tent. It's just a regular square popup tent. If it were outside you might think that the people standing under it were grilling some burgers or selling things at a farmers market, or watching their kids play soccer. But for about 20 minutes every Sunday it becomes this 9ft. by 9ft. sanctuary - a sacred space where we experience God through prayer.
Most of my 20 minutes under the tent this week was spent simply watching people walk by, receive communion, and walk by again. I didn't know much about the stories of most of the people I watched walk by. Still, I tried to imagine what they might be thinking and feeling. I asked God to fill them up. Only one couple stopped for prayer. They were both very calm as they explained how she had just been laid off and they were unsure of what was next for them. I listened. I tried to ask a few empathetic questions. Then I put one hand on each of their shoulders and I prayed.
I felt some tears welling up in me as I prayed. This is not all that uncommon; I consider myself a crier. I didn't reveal this to the person who first asked me to be on the prayer team, although I think I maybe should have. Maybe I should have to wear a name tag to let people know. Maybe it should be part of the announcement, "If you want prayer, there will be a few people available under the popup tent in the back. If you want prayer without tears, avoid the guy with the name tag that says, 'hello, I'm a crier'".
I felt like I was asking God to help this couple, and at the same time, desperately trying to hold myself together. Praying out-loud is awkward already. Praying out-loud with people that you don't know very well - people that have just shared an incredible hardship with you - is especially awkward. Now add to that the moment that we say amen and open our eyes and I'm the one with tears while they still have this unbelievable sense of calm sense of calm.
Awkward and kind of beautiful.