Prayer as Kenosis:
"Prayer, both private and public, is one of the most common of human activities" - pg 63
This statement shocked me. Not in a bad way, but it was surprising. I had never thought about it that way before. When I hear the word 'prayer' I usually think of someone going to church because that is what I have grown up to believe of prayer as. When you truly break it down and think about it though, prayer is much more and much less than that. Yes prayer does involve people going to church and actively worshipping, but it also involves the little things. Prayer can also be seen as just hoping for a good grade on your test or crossing your fingers that the person you like asks you out. These are very materialistic and "marketplace" influenced prayers. Prayer can also occur when one is out on a walk and takes the time to notice and appreciate the sights around them and be thankful for the experience.
Everyone takes part in prayer everyday throughout their lives whether they are consciously doing so through active worship or they are doing so subconsciously through their daily mannerisms. Those who do not actively worship a higher being may not admit to taking part in prayer, but the reality of the matter is that as stated in the text, prayer occurs every day and it is "one of the most common of human activities" and one cannot deny that some of their actions may be perceived as being prayer. Prayer can be the smallest of actions taken by oneself to completing the seven sacraments. Prayer is a very vast topic and cannot be strictly defined.
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