Welcome to

Anglican Beads

Rhythm of beads, by Archbishop Michael Peers

page 2

So, my first prayer was of course to God, and of course about myself - "Show me your way; show me my way." Next day I discovered the classic tradition that begins with the adoration of God, rather than with myself, and I prayed, "Father, glory; Jesus, praise." Another day I took the adverbs from two psalms to which I had been pointed (63 and 40), and repeated the four words at the head of this column, a meditation on faithfulness, God's and (I pray) mine.

What did I learn? That the rhythm of the beads together with my footsteps could support these lengthy periods of prayer on walks not only by the riverside but also on a busy shopping street. (When I tried just using the rhythm of my steps without the beads, I got lost.)

That this particular form of what St. Paul calls "praying without ceasing" is  not at all the burden, which that phrase sometimes conjures up. But how to answer the inevitable question, "Does this sort of prayer work?" If the question, "does it work" means "do I emerge from a prayer walk, having asked to be shown my way, with a road map to make me a better Christian or archbishop or husband" then the short answer is "no." But where it does "work" is in gently inculcating an attitude of prayerfulness to everything and everyone around, making me more aware of God's continual presence in my life and context, God's continual care for me and those around me, and my responsibility to respond to that care. And I've discovered it "works" just a well walking to the streetcar on my way to work. And maybe I'll get brave enough to try it sitting still.              (back to page 1)