Sitting in the Sun

How I've been praying this spring.

This Lent a friend gave me the gift of a good question:

When you picture Jesus retreating from the crowds to be restored through time alone in prayer, what do you see him doing?

I was surprised by how quickly the image came in response. Immediately, I pictured a brown skinned man, high up on a mountain ledge, sitting cross-legged with his smiling face turned towards the sun. With his eyes closed, and soaking in the warmth of the sun, I saw him at one with the rocks below and around him.

Later that day, while I was refilling a water bottle, I looked out of the kitchen window and my gaze was drawn to the swinging egg chair in the corner of our sunny garden. Something about the scene reminded me of the image and I had some time to spare so I went out into the garden. I sat in my egg chair and turned my face up to the sun.