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Schooled - In life we are schooled in more than academic subjects
When we think of having been schooled it is usually in terms of a specific subject, with the added emphasis that we learned it well and have some mastery of it, and not that we simply attended classes, seminars, or received individual tutoring and never gained comprehension. Although most of have been schooled in prayer, we cannot begin with an assumption that we have learned how to pray and now have expertise. Rather, we make use of our spiritual senses and discover several causes for gratitude.
We can begin by thinking about how, and through whom, we have been schooled in prayer; how we have become able to pray anywhere and anytime of our choosing, including those times when we are silently appreciative of the beauty of nature. We can likely recall some instances when we were taught about various ways of praying by family members or teachers, and by receiving direct inspirations from God, as well as by personal invitations from other people that made praying a natural response. We might see how we were not only being schooled somewhat as we might have been in a normal teaching or coaching environment but are still being schooled even now in our relationship with God as an ongoing spiritual experience. Unlike specific areas of learning, progress in prayer is continual and is also not measurable by any standard that could ever lead to a sense of completion.
When we look at the mysterious process by which we encounter God in prayer, we find that trust and love are essential components, whether we are aware of such movements within us or not. Over time, we notice moments of felt closeness with God or awareness of our being loved, and at other moments we have little or no perceptible feelings. But in the end, we sense that praying was good for us. Such is the manner at least in part, by which we are being schooled in prayer.
Since it is impossible for our minds to fully comprehend the vastness of the physical universe or even our own ways of thinking, feeling, and making decisions, we can begin to appreciate how wondrous it is that we can pray; that we who are wholly dependent and time-bound creatures, have the capacity to be present to God who is present with us. No matter how many people have directly or indirectly guided and helped us, we are ultimately schooled by God through the priceless gift of faith. Thankfulness is likely a spontaneous and beneficial result of quietly pondering such a beautiful mystery.
Being schooled in prayer is a lifelong gracious part of life.
Last Updated 8/29/2026