The Hug
Do you know those times when you walk into the kitchen,
and your beloved is busy cooking,
and you turn her toward you,
and as she consents,
a hug and a tender kiss,
and more hugging,
just being,
time stopping for a moment,
slightly rocking together as one—
that is what prayer is like for me.
Or when your young child rests on your lap,
perhaps to read to you or with you,
or just to talk about whatever,
and deep in your heart,
sometimes deeper than consciousness,
you know how precious and holy this encounter is,
smelling her hair,
rubbing her back,
kissing her forehead,
time stopping for a moment,
slightly rocking together as one—
that is what prayer is like for me.