I have a lot of faith. But I am also afraid a lot, and have no real certainty about anything. I remembered something Father Tom had told me--that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Certainty is missing the point entirely. Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns.

Anything you say from your heart to God is a prayer. But "why" is rarely a useful question. When Job keeps asking God why he has had such loss and suffering, God says, "You wouldn't understand." I always want to know why, and I almost never have a good answer.

I just try to love and serve everyone, and bring everyone water, and lend an ear; that's what Jesus said to do.

I think this is how we are supposed to be in the world-present and in awe.

Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers.

If you want to make God laugh, tell her your plans.

When you pray, you are not starting the conversation from scratch, just remembering to plug back into a conversation that's always in progress.