Daily Prayer: A Simple Enough Concept

     Daily prayer is such a simple concept.
     We awaken each day, and the Spirit leads us out of bed and onto our knees, to praise God and ask for God's mercies throughout the coming day.
     We stop our workday for lunch, and we give thanks to God, not merely "for this food and the hands that have prepared it," but for the ways we have seen God at work in the first working hours of the day.  
     And then at evening, we thank God again, intercede for others, and pray whatever else the Spirit leads us to pray.
     It all looks good on paper, doesn't it? But when each day comes, we get pushed and pulled by all types of "more important" things.
     In the morning, we need our coffee first. The dog has to go for a walk and take a pee. The kids wake up and want breakfast. The newspaper looks more interesting.
     At lunch, we tell ourselves we are too busy to pause for prayer because of the demands of the day. We have to get back to the office.
     And in the evening, of course, are children's events, night meetings at church, or a game or new episode on TV.
     There are all types of things that complicate the very simple concept of daily prayer. It happens in my life, and maybe for some of you.
     I have found two things helpful.
     The first is the concept of "Praying the Hours" -- a Jewish tradition that Jesus and his disciples embraced. It is also Christian monastic tradition, a tradition that Protestant Reformers observed, and a discipline we can still use today.
     There are any ways of dividing up each day into Hours of Prayer, but I have found Morning, Midday, and Evening Prayers to be an attainable and helpful format. It is not the only one, of course, but it gives a little structure that I need. And if my definition of "morning" prayer time is invaded by dogs, kids, and headlines, then I may need to awaken 30 minutes earlier, or ask the Spirit to nudge me and awaken me 30 minutes earlier.
     The second helpful practice is starting 15-minute prayer services at your church or with other believers. Make a covenant with "two or more" believers to meet once a week (Wednesday?), or even more, for one of these prayer times. At these services, read a Psalm and a second Scripture lesson together. Sing a hymn or song of praise together. Pray together. It takes only 15 minutes. I promise.
     I have found that accountability and encouragement from other worshipers helps me to honor at least one of these prayer times each week. One prayer times builds on the next, and soon I have more courage and inspiration to pray more diligently each day when I am alone.
     For what it's worth.

Coaching is About the Joy

     I always wondered what it was that kept my old basketball coaches returning year after year to work with us on the court.
     Was it the money?
     No. Some of my high school coaches earned some extra bucks, no doubt, but I can't imagine the hourly rate was worth it.
     Was it the prestige?
     Hardly. Most of my teams -- with the exception of my old CYO teams at Corpus Christi Catholic Church -- stunk.
     Was it because dads wanted to coach their sons' teams, to spend time with Junior or even to make sure Junior makes the starting team?
     This is plausible. I've done this as a coach (at least the first part), and spending time with your son or daughter is definitely a good reason to coach, at least in my opinion. I want my kids to remember that I was involved in their lives, and I want to share a piece of me with them as they grow up.
     But I have discovered a new reason to coach, in recent months. I have identified why I think (and hope) many adults coach youth athletics.
     It brings me joy.
     It brought me joy this year to teach basketball fundamentals, and little life lessons along the way, to a bunch of junior high and elementary school kids (I coached my son MT's fourth-grade team and my son Ben's sixth-grade team). It brings me great joy on gamedays to see the kids compete, and occasionally (rarely in our case) eek out a win. It brings me joy to see them finally "get it," whether it is seeing them use a bounce pass instead of a chest pass, or seeing them slide their feed on defense instead of reaching in for a foul.
     And this year, my joy has gone to a whole new level. I coach my daughter's first- and second-grade volleyball team.
     Now, I only know the basics of volleyball -- what I learned in high school gym class and what I learned at the mandatory 2-hour coaches clinic this year.
     But what joy it brings me to work with these little girls, and see them finally hit the ball over the net on a serve or see one of them return a serve.
     I am in coaching because I want my daughter to know that she is athletic, that girls sports are just as important as her brothers' sports, to spend time with her, etc... But at the core, I coach because it brings me joy.
     I know I am not alone.