You know it as soon as the words leave your mouth ... "Ooops! That was a stupid thing to say!" and normally it is. As much as you'd like to reach out and grab them before they hit the hears of who you're talking to ... once words are out, they're out. You can't take them back.
Sometimes the result can be glorious if the words are abrupt expressions of love, desire, friendship or utter honesty. Most often though, they are some reaction to what is taking place in front of you ... a fight with the significant other, a disagreement with a co-worker, audacity that the police officer pulled you over when people sped right past you, or you receive the bill at the restaurant and have sticker shock.
In Hebrew, words are not spoken ... they are born.
Luckily, the vast majority born are the mere function of communication. "Honey, do you want me to turn the heater up?" ... "Do I take or a right or a left at this intersection?" ... "Want to take the kids to McDonald's tonight?"
Holy words are sometimes born that refuse to die. "Four score and twenty years ago" ... "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country" ... "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself" ... and the holiest of words are "I love you."
The most meaningful words are the most basic of sentences. "I love you" ... "I can't stay anymore and am leaving" ... "We can do this!" ... "I hate you!" ... "Trust me!" ... "We'll make it" ... "I quit!" ... "We have each other."
Prayer are really just predicated on the most basic of words ... "Oh God!"
That's it!
Every other prayer ever uttered is really elaboration of this guttural, initial response to ... either something very, very bad ... or something very, very good. The rest of the prayers usually have a selfishness about them ... "Give me this" or "Take away that."
Sometimes there is no need for words. You just look and know. Eyes do the talking. Touches convey everything. Hearts say it all as they break ... or as they leap in joy.
It's best to be honest about it. In the last twelve hours, I've lived through ... and uttered ... each of the categories of words that are born.
In the last couple of years, I've either said or have heard ... every single phrase in each context described above.
This morning I sit her watching the sun rise over the ocean. The cold winds of the past several days are blowing elsewhere. Staring out of windows that need cleaning, I am quiet ... thoughtful ... praying without words ... not asking for anything but making a declaration of my faith.
"I believe."
