Tag: christianity

The following meditation is by Dr. Bruce Main, Founder & Executive Director of Urban Promise. It will appear in Dr. Doug Hood’s forthcoming book, A Month of Prayer & Gratitude: Five-Minute Meditations for a Deeper Experience of Gratitude.

I remember a story about one of Pastor Hood’s mentors and role models—the Reverend Bryant M. Kirkland, who pastored the acclaimed Fifth Ave Presbyterian Church in New York City from 1962 to 1987. 

One September day, a Princeton Seminary student boarded the commuter train at Princeton Junction, New Jersey, to downtown Manhattan. This Master of Divinity student was to attend a lunch meeting with Reverend Kirkland at the New York Athletic Club to discuss his ministry field placement. Awed by the marble floors and stately columns of the eating establishment, the student nervously navigated his way past the receptionist to find pastor Kirkland sitting at a white-clothed table adorned with silver utensils and glass goblets—a vivid contrast to the rather austere seminary cafeteria. 

“Have you ever prayed New York style?” stated Kirkland as the lunch arrived. Perplexed and bewildered, the student cast his eyes downward and sheepishly whispered, “No sir.” 

“In New York, we pray with our eyes wide open,” began Kirkland, scanning the large dining room fully attentively. “Dear Lord, we pray for the waitress serving us today, lift the burden she seems to be carrying. And for the businessmen at the back table, we pray the decisions they make will be just and fair for their employees. For the couple to our left who seem tense and at odds, we pray for their marriage.” Then Kirkland paused, looked at the young seminarian in the eyes: “And God, thanks for my new friend. May our friendship be as delicious as the food we’re about to receive. Bless him. Guide his steps as he studies to be the preacher and pastor you have called him to be.”

Prayer is not simply closing our eyes and reciting our wish list to God. Prayer is opening our eyes to what God needs us to see now and respond with grace, empathy, and love. That’s New York-style prayer. That’s praying with our eyes wide open. 

Joy,