Cultivating the Virtue of Love with Flash Prayer: Soul Sculpting Project

Frank sat in the back of the bus conducting his usual prayer experiment. He sent out quick prayers for individuals sitting in front of him. Frank loved doing this experiment. He liked the way he felt as he did it. He called it “the finest tonic I know.” He claimed, ” When you’re utterly tired from work or study and walk out in the street and Flash prayers at people, your nerves tingle with the inflow from heaven.”

He also loved watching the effect that his prayers had on the atmosphere of the places around him. He observed downcast individuals look up and begin smiling. He observed conversations changing for the better.

When he flashed his prayers during a tense meeting the mood frequently became relaxed and cooperative.

Love

For Frank prayer was a way to love others. 

Love is a life-giving virtue that benefits the giver and receiver. 

Frank’s positive experience of  this “fine tonic” matches research findings on meditation and compassionate care.

Studies find that when we extend love to others with prayer, meditation, or action we:

• Increase our positive emotion and mood. (We’re happier)
• Lower negative stress
• Reduce depression
• Increase relational satisfaction and skills.

When we find that our prayers bring us an experience of emotional warmth we are releasing oxytocin into our body. 

Oxytocin starts a chain reaction that:

•  Lowers our blood pressure
•  Reduces damaging free-radical atoms  
•  Reduces inflammation

Flashing quick prayers of love for others is life-giving for us. Body and soul. 

2022 Lenten Challenge: Counteracting the 7 Deadly Sins with 7 Life Giving Virtues

Week #3

• Deadly Sin: Lust

• Life-Giving Virtue: Love

Deadly Sin List:  Begun in the 4th century by Evagrius Ponticus, numbered in the 6th century by Pope Gregory the 1st, and elaborated on in the 13th century by Thomas Aquinas

This week I invite you to join me in cultivating the Life-giving virtue of love by offering quick prayers for others. 

This project can be done anywhere, anytime. Standing in line at the grocery store, driving to work, writing emails, lying awake in the middle of the night.

These prayers of love can be extended to anyone or topic that comes to mind. The person right in front of us or future world peace. 

Flash prayers are neither lengthy nor carefully composed. For Frank these prayers were often simply one word, “Jesus”. Frank just wanted to bring the person to the loving care of Jesus. 

When I say flash prayers I use the first word or phrase that comes to  mind. Sometimes it specifically relates to a situation I see. I’m in the store and see a woman struggling to care for her child. My flash prayer might be, “ Jesus come to her aid” or “Fill her with peace”.  When I am in a conversation it might be, “ Help me, listen.”

When I am walking in a crowd the common, generic phrases that I use are: “Come to their aid”, ”Fill them with hope (peace, love, joy.)

Soul Sculpting Project: Cultivating the Virtue of Love with Flash Prayer            

1. Select a time/place to pray. Taking a walk, sitting in a meeting, laying in bed. . . 

2. Pray a word, phrase, or sentence (specific or general) for whatever comes to your attention.     

Frank not only appreciated the personal well-being he experienced as he flashed prayers, he especially delighted in the positive effects he frequently saw in those he prayed for.

For him, flash prayers were a scientific experiment. Frank Laubach kept a notebook with him to record his observations. 

You can read about some of his prayer experiments in his book: Prayer, the Mightiest Force in the World.