A person can pray anywhere or should feel free to pray anywhere. But sometimes it helps to have a special place to go to, a spot that helps you quiet your mind and focus your thoughts. Some people like churches, some like gardens, others like porches, still others prefer a walk along a path or a ride on horseback through a field of tall grass. Jesus liked lonely places away from people and when in Jerusalem preferred the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. When my children were young they had a prayer tree.
There were two prayer trees actually. One in the woods only a few hundred feet by the home we lived in when they were five and three. Another up a mountainside when they were twelve and ten. The first one was always arrived at after a long walk in the woods that included visiting horses in a wooden corral and looking for deer antlers and bones in the brush. I should explain this town was right in the Rocky Mountains, and elk, deer, coyote, and other animals were common sights. So finding antlers and animal bones was common too. Whatever was found was placed at the prayer tree and left there. My son insisted we stay at the tree for five or ten minutes and pray about whatever we wanted. He was quite dogmatic about it. So we stayed and prayed. One prayer was always thanking God for the animals he had created.
The first tree was strong and flourishing. The second, the one up the mountainside in a wilderness park, also in the Rockies, was wind-blasted and heat-scoured and utterly empty of leaves. In fact it was dead. But, as is sometimes the case, as dramatic and beautiful in death as it was in life, if not moreso. It required a drive into the mountains and a stiff hike onto a ridge to get to it. By that time the tree was a welcome place to sit and relax and drink water—and pray. The view ahead of us was spectacular—mountains and peaks and glaciers and acres of sky. My son was less dogmatic at twelve than he had been at five and we lingered for a long time or short time, whatever suited us. Some prayers were spoken out loud. Some were silent. He didn’t care. There was more grace. My daughter loved this prayer tree the most of all. The location and the silvered beauty of the long dead mountain tree touched something in her soul.
Now the kids are grown up and at university. I pray for them when I’m in bed, when I’m driving, when I’m walking my dog. And I’m pretty sure they pray for their father and mother. They lead busy lives – school, studies, friends, cooking their own meals at an apartment a hundred miles from the mountains they grew up in. Maybe one of them has found another prayer tree. It’s funny but I remember both the trees we often stopped to pray at whenever I think long and hard about the days gone by. The one up the mountainside I can get to in less than an hour. It’s nice to be able to do that, just like Jesus enjoyed making his way to the familiar gated garden in Jerusalem. When I’m there it’s easy to remember so much of what really matters – the children, family, God, companionship, the dogs we often with walked up those steep slopes, the beauty of a planned world. You never forget what counts the most at such places where those you love have been with you numerous times and where you have met together the One in whose hands you have placed their lives and yours forever and ever, amen.
Murray Andrew Pura was born on Bobby Burns Day, hence his first two names, and one of the reasons, no doubt, that he was writing stories by the time he was eight. His first work of fiction was published when he was fourteen, his first award in a writing contest came at seventeen. The first short story of many was printed in CRUX in December, 1988 and his first novel, Mizzly Fitch, was also released in 1988. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia and his ThM degree in theology and interdisciplinary studies from Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was ordained in Vancouver in 1986. Over a span of twenty-five years, in addition to his writing, he has pastored churches in Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Alberta.
Murray’s writings have been shortlisted for the Dartmouth Book Award, the John Spencer Hill Literary Award, and the Paraclete Fiction Award and have been published in a number of regions outside of Canada and the US, including the UK, Germany and New Zealand. He has performed speaking engagements in such cities as Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Denver. He continues to pastor and write in southern Alberta near the Rocky Mountains.
Connect with Murray at his website, on Facebook, and on Twitter.
*UPDATE: Murray is giving away three copies of the Civil War romance, The Last Waltz. To enter, simply leave a comment below on this blog post. If you want an extra entry, follow me on Twitter and leave another comment below on this blog post letting me know your Twitter handle. You can also get another entry by liking my page on Facebook and leaving another comment below on this blog post letting me know you liked my page. That’s THREE possible ways of winning! You have until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. PDT to enter. Only those in the continental U.S. are eligible to win. You have until a week after the winner is announced to claim your prize before we pick another winner.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ONCE AGAIN, KATE!
Good Job Murray!! Angela from KY
Wonderful story about the trees, Murray. They’re such magnificent creations! So glad you and your family have those good shared memories. Joy Ross Davis from AL
best wishes Kentucky Woman Angela & Alabama Joy ((smile))
Please enter me in the giveaway. Angela from KY
angelachesnut246@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing your insights and wisdom, Murray! You sound like a great dad!
I would love to win a book of Murray’s awesome.
Blessings
joeym11@frontier.com
Hi Diana! Cheers!
Hi Cowboy! Look forward to reading this 🙂
I enjoyed reading about the trees. Those are wonderful memories I’m sure.
I read this aloud to my husband, Murray. Well written and meaningful. Thanks for offering our readers a chance to win a copy of “The Last Waltz”!
This book looks really good, thank you for the chance to read it!
Happy Birthday and thanks for the chance to win. Sharma Darby rdarby@roadrunner.com
I had already liked your page thank you
Please enter me into this book give away too.
I have already liked your page.
I would love to win. Thanks. PLease enter me in the contest!Bgauthier49@live.com
I enjoyed the post concerning the trees and places to pray. I know I have a favorite place to pray. Thank you for sharing! Please enter me in the giveaway.
Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’m following you on Twitter.
@barbmaci61
Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’ve liked your Facebook page.
Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi Murray. I would love a copy of your book: The Last Waltz. Kathleen Harrison I can be reached at jkmharrison@shaw.ca Thanks for the opportunity to possibly win your book.
Kate Llyod, I have liked your page as well as requested. kathleenharrison@shaw.ca
Thank you!
I will put this site up on my facebook WALL PAGE & also on my Group page: “Amish Books Readers” on my facebook. Thanks. kathleenharrison@shaw.ca Kathleen Harrison
Hi Kate. Hope you had a wonderful birthday, another gift from GOD. I always say, every time I have another birthday it is wonderful. 🙂 Thanks for having Murray with a guest post. Murray, I loved your post. You have made some beautiful memories with your family. I looved the Tetons when I lived in Jackson, WY. there is a beautiful place to sit and thank GOD for all of the beauty and wonders HE has given us to enjoy. I loved it there. Sounds like you stay real busy. I would love to win this book of yours “The Last Waltz”. Thanks to you both for this chance. MAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com
Kate, please give me a second chance to win Murray’s book, for I have liked your Facebook page. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
Thanks for the give-aways you sponser.
susanlulu@yahoo.com
I follow you on facebook.
susanlulu@yahoo.com
I love this idea of a prayer tree – a place to go to. 🙂
farmygirl@hotmail.com
FB follower
I follow on fb do have a twitter LeAnn Mooneyham. Please enter me. I love his first book I read. Know this one will be ust as wonderful. angel4god(at)charter(dot)net
THANKS FOR ENTERING EVERYONE! DON’T FORGET THE EXTRA ENTRY YOU CAN GET BY FOLLOWING KATE ON TWITTER! ABOUT 36 HOURS LEFT TO GO ON THIS GIVEAWAY! BLESSINGS!
I echo Murray’s thank you to all who entered! And thank you, Murray, for being a splendid guest!
I’ve read a couple of Murray’s books so far and really liked them, would love to win this on, thank you for the chance.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I already follow you on twitter (@WendyNewcomb)
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I already like your FB page (Wendy Newcomb)
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I would love to win Murray’s book.
Thanks for the giveaway.
Katie J.
johnsonk133[at]yahoo[dot]com