So I was at the end of a presentation, about the importance of good description in a story, at our storybook workshop (full of pastors and teachers) the other day when I was asked “Why did you ask us to shut our eyes before?” I have to admit, it was not the kind of question I was expecting when I left time for clarification on what I was saying!
Earlier in the presentation I had read a story to provide an illustration and, in usual dramatic fashion, to heighten the sense of awareness and increase concentration I had asked all the participants to close their eyes. At first they were confused, thinking I was saying that I would shut my eyes (presumably that was less unusual for them – for the storyteller to shut his eyes to aid his concentration!), and then later they just laughed.
So when we reached the end of the talk, and I opened the floor for questions, that was the first question I got… “Why did you ask us to shut our eyes before?” Eventually, after some explanation and discussion – especially mentioning that it might help you to concentrate and create a better picture in your mind – one of the other participants suggested that it was just like when we pray! At this the discussion ended, everyone obviously satisfied that this explained this new idea. However it got me thinking…
…so why do they think we shut our eyes when we pray? Do they agree that it helps us to concentrate and focus our attention on God? Or do they think it’s just what they should do? Was it what they were shown/taught how to do and so it continues on. What should we, if anything, say to them about this? Do we need to ask and pursue this? Does it matter? And so I come to the conclusion no, but yes.
On the one hand it probably doesn’t matter about eyes and prayer specifically… but on the other hand it does matter that they have the opportunity – the permission – to stop and think why. In everything we do here we need to make sure the people fully understand what we are doing and why. They need to be able to not only direct what we are doing, but also be actively encouraged to ask questions why. To understand the complete picture, the background and the long term effects, and to ask whether this really is what they want. In many senses this is a tough challenge. Firstly it means we have to face the reality that they may not agree with us! They may want something different, something we cannot offer or be involved with. Secondly this kind of critical thinking is often culturally very difficult to encourage. Most Tanzanians are not readily given opportunities to think in such ways (especially through school, but also at home) and so when left with such blank canvases they may not see it as such a positive position to be in. But this is our challenge. We are here to help no matter what the cost to us, our dreams or our work. In fact, we need to approach our work and our intentions with that very same ‘questioning’ attitude: hands together eyes closed… why were we doing that again?
6 comments:
I much prefer to pray with my eyes open. I fumble over my words when I close my eyes because I'm worrying too much about what to say. When my eyes are open it's just like talking, it flows more naturally.
I think this is a really interesting subject. Even in England I'm convinced we don't ask the question why enough about things we do. Too often we just assume that the way we've always done things is the way things should be done.
I just read a book where a guy travels through Turkey, the Middle-East and Egypt visiting Eastern Orthodox and Coptic churches and monasteries. Here they are still worshipping with almost the exact same practices they have used for the last 1700 years. He observes the similarities with Islamic worship practices that they originally took from the Church, but which now, in the west, we would not recognise as Christian ways to pray, worship and so on.
(The book was From the Holy Mountain by William Dalrymple, by the way)
Anyway - a bit of a waffle...
Hi Matt and Liz, John Macaulay here. Nice to hear from you. I've been in bed since Friday with a really nasty cough - Karibu tena Uingereza!! Weather has been cloudy and cool. Surprise surprise. You're doing some deep reflection out there. It's good. Miss you folk and all in Mbeya. Keep thinking, stay well, God bless. Greetings to all there.
really interesting topic - i remember wondering about this growing up, observing prayer in my church. it felt like misbehaving it i left my eyes open during the group prayers, like i was 'syping' on others during this individual (yet group-led) 'private' moment. i still wonder if we shouldn't have our eyes profoundly open when praying, so we can better stay attuned to this world around us for which we are praying. because i think observation has such an important part to play when we are asking for changes and improvement in ourselves and others - more the strength to make those things happen, i suppose. but maybe it's the open eyes that precede the prayer, that give it shape and clarity. at the moment of actually praying for it, whether your eyelids are shut or open perhaps doesn't matter so much. i certainly don't have the answers, but it's a really interesting topic!
Heard a jewish scholar guy speak once and he said that Jews traditionally pray with their eyes open, therefore we can assume that Jesus too prayed with his eyes open. WWJD? a) Keep his eyes open!
Really interesting, and far too deep for my poor little brain to cope with at the moment.
I was always under the impression that when praying (in school assembly) you close your eyes and put your hands together for one of two reasons depending how cynical you are feeling:
1) To allow you to focus on your prayer.
2) To stop you fidgeting to allow others to focus, and to give your teachers a well deserved 2 minute break.
I decided quite early on that it clearly wasn't because of 1) because otherwise things like normal classroom learning, or the airline safety talk would be done with your eyes closed to allow you to focus and memorise it.
By being given the opportunity to question why then you understand it more, even if you still do the same practice, but we are in a reflective society and like you say, blank canvas can be scarey if you aren't used to it. Sometimes you need to follow instruction rather than make your own way through trial and error.
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