Why must people kneel down to pray?
If I really wanted to pray I’ll tell you what I’d do.
I’d go out into a great big field all alone or
in the deep, deep woods and
I’d look up into the sky—up—up—up—into that lovely blue sky
that looks as if there was no end to its blueness.
And then I’d just feel a prayer.
— L.M. Montgomery
Lucy Maud Montgomery (1875-1942) was born in Clifton, Prince Edward Island. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables. Montgomery went on to publish 20 novels as well as 530 short stories, 500 poems, and 30 essays. Most of the novels were set on Prince Edward Island, Canada, and places in the Canadian province became literary landmarks. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1935.
Her mother died of tuberculosis when Lucy was 21 months old. Stricken with grief over his wife’s death, Hugh John Montgomery gave custody over to Montgomery’s maternal grandparents. She was raised by them in a strict and unforgiving manner. Montgomery’s early life was very lonely. Despite having relations nearby, much of her childhood was spent alone. Montgomery credits this time of her life, in which she created many imaginary friends and worlds to cope with her loneliness, as what developed her creative mind.
Notes: Photograph – bigdaddyk. Poem Source – The Sensual Starfish. Bio: Wiki.
The times I feel most in touch with a power far bigger than anything I can fathom is when I am alone, looking up and feeling awed and humbled.
Beautifully captured Mimi. Yes. Now, only for me to “call this up” at will and more frequently.
Just look up kiddo – anytime, anyplace. Look up..
Divine and thoughtful! I kneel down in prayer to look up to Him holding me by His hand.
Wide open spaces, mountains anywhere under the sky and in very small unpretentious old places of worship where the walls have absorbed the emotions of the past.
Beautiful. Yes.Thanks Sally.
yes.
EXACTLY
As a child of the prairies with most of my time spent outdoors exploring the coulees of my youth – yes – that resonates with me. Still, to this day, when I go out for a walk or putter in my yard, all I have to do is look up and I feel less alone! MJ
Yet when I look up, I don’t feel less alone. I feel insignificant.
or that my “big” problems aren’t so big anymore 🙂
I love the openness of this, the absence of constriction and ‘shoulds’. I also really appreciate that it’s – for her -not a given that there will be a prayer. But that IF she were to…that it’s as simple and freeing as just looking up to begin or continue the conversation.
Yes. And so remarkable given her youth and environment. Inspirational.
Agreed, such wisdom.
What a wonderful way to put it – ‘I’d just feel a prayer’ I couldn’t agree more!!! All that kneeling ugh – I did that in my childhood! I even remember in my teenage years sermons being given in my church where the paster mentioned that for people who weren’t able to physically kneel, that wasn’t a worry to God, that was OK. I thought “what?! If it’s OK, then it’s OK for everyone” – so I didn’t! 😉
Lucy Montgomery is such an interesting writer for her time. I remember my Mum talking of Anne Of Green Gables as being her all time favourite childhood novel. I listened to it on You Tube about a year ago, and realised it was actually in some ways very similar to my Mothers life at the time because she was in a children’s home, and I think if I remember right the character Anne was in a similar situation. It made sense as to why she connected so deeply to that novel. It’s just a pity she not alive to tell her that I discovered that, as I never got round to reading it as a child.
It’s interesting that Lucy Montgomery didn’t have a perfect life and must have been troubled, and possibly that loneliness got her creating all that writing. An amazing amount of short stories – wow, what a writer!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing such wonderful thoughts Suzy. I appreciate it. Even thought Lucy was Canadian (as am I), I never read any of her work. I’m going to have to fix that.