toward a definition of prayer

Today I took part in a retreat at Saint Timothy's in Greensboro, North Carolina, a church that I helped to start a few years ago. This particular portion of the retreat was led by Linda, and she asked us to reflect on a question: "How would you define prayer, using at least three characteristics?"

Here was my response: Prayer is a conversation, with God through Jesus Christ, in response to life in the moment.

Thus prayer can be gratitude, or confession, or petition, or lament, or something else. There were many good reflections on this question.

How would you define prayer?