Prayer Walk

My first exposure to a Prayer Walk was through the book Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris - which I highly recommend. I had known about labyrinth walking and prayer. Kathleen's writing was the logical next step for me. Since then I have read more about praying and discovered tons of recorded or written prayers. And of course, my recital is based on THE prayer that Jesus taught us to pray.

On campus this year there is a call to prayer. Students feel the importance of praying. Faculty sense it also. Administration need prayer. These are demanding times, especially because of all the changes and adjustments. The theme that the chaplain's office has selected for the year is an emphasis on prayer.

Today we kicked off the season with a prayer walk. Students gathered at the cultural life center and divided into groups. Every area of campus had a group assigned to physically walk there and walk through and around the area, praying for people who work in that space, activities that occur there, etc. I was facilitator for the Library prayer group. There were three students in my group - 2 freshmen and one senior.

We entered the Library and began our prayer journey at the Circulation Desk. I introduced the staff in the area, then we stood in a circle, joined hands, and prayed for the service, the people, and the students and faculty who are affected by that service. We worked our way around the first floor and headed upstairs.

I had thought an hour a long time to spend in praying for the Library, but we actually had to cut our circuit short due to time constraints. Everyone we prayed for was very moved and delighted to know they were getting support and that students cared enough to come and lift them up. The students were amazed at all the areas of the library and all the work behind the scenes that goes on quietly about which they knew nothing.

It was a good and productive prayer walk. Not your usual personal contemplative endeavor, but surely precious to all and pleasing to God.