During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn’t leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.

During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn’t leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.

It seems everyone wants to be more authentic. Jesus points to a challenging counter-intuitive path with a surprising detour through denial.

Holy ground hurts. Sandals don’t stay on when you sprint. I didn’t expect actual flames.

Holy ground hurts. Sandals don’t stay on when you sprint. I didn’t expect actual flames.