July 25, 2025 • 19 mins
When Jesus' disciples asked, "Lord, teach us to pray," they recognized how Jesus connected with the Divine. The prayer the disciples asked for wasn’t about polished words. It was about relationship.
In this episode, Melissa has a conversation with The Rev. Canon Salmoon Bashir about prayer and its power to transform our spiritual lives. Salmoon shares the story of how his mother instilled prayer as a non-negotiable daily practice in their family life. The conversation reveals how early formation in prayer creates patterns that sustain us through life's complexities.
Prayer emerges not as a performance or obligation but as relationship-building with the divine. "The focus of prayer is to be like Jesus, love like Jesus, pray like Jesus, forgive like Jesus, welcome strangers like Jesus," Salmoon explains. This relational approach dismantles the anxiety many feel about "praying correctly," affirming that from ancient liturgical traditions to simple heartfelt words, there's no wrong way to pray. As Salmoon prepares to pass these prayer traditions to his four-month-old son by reading Psalms at bedtime, we're reminded that prayer forms not just our spiritual lives but the generations that follow. Listen in for the full conversation.
Read For Faith, the companion devotional.
The Rev. Canon Salmoon Bashir serves as the Canon for Liturgy and Ecumenism at the Cathedral of St. Philip. Originally from Pakistan, Salmoon brings over a decade of experience in offering compassionate and thoughtful leadership across multicultural, multi-faith contexts in the United States, Pakistan, Iraq, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Georgia.
Before ordained ministry, Salmoon worked as a Project Engineer in the oil and gas industry in the Middle East. Responding to a vocational call, he joined the Community of St. Anselm at Lambeth Palace in London, serving alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury. He later moved to the Republic of Georgia, where he served as Assistant Pastor in a vibrant, multiethnic, and multidenominational church.
Salmoon's call to the priesthood in The Episcopal Church led him to Atlanta, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree with a Certificate in Episcopal-Anglican Studies and a Chaplaincy concentration from Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. In addition to his ministry, Salmoon serves on several academic, religious, and nonprofit boards. He is married to Mari, a fellow graduate of Candler School of Theology, who works with a faith-based nonprofit organization.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Salmoon (00:00):
We pray to become like Jesus.
Of course, there are momentswhen we ask things, there are
moments when we give thanks.
Through that whole system, webuild relationship with Jesus,
with God, with the Holy Spirit.
I feel like our focus or ourdesire through every prayer is
to be like Him, love like Jesus,pray like Jesus, forgive like
(00:23):
Jesus, welcome strangers likeJesus, the way he did that.
Melissa (00:40):
Welcome to For People with Bishop Rob Wright.
I'm your host Melissa Rau andthis is a conversation inspired
by For Faith, a weekly devotionsent out every Friday.
You can find a link to thisweek's For Faith and a link to
subscribe in the episode'sdescription.
Now, over the last few weekswe've had special guests from
the Diocese of Atlanta, sinceBishop Rob is focusing on
(01:02):
continuing education, and thisweek we have the Reverend Canon
Salmoon Bashir, who serves as acanon for liturgy and ecumenism
with the Cathedral of St.
Philip in Atlanta.
Did I get that right?
I think I said ecumenismcorrectly.
Salmoon (01:18):
That's correct.
Melissa (01:21):
We're really glad you're with us.
Salmoon (01:23):
Thank you.
Melissa (01:24):
Awesome.
Well, we're so glad you're withus and I'm glad for your words
of wisdom.
So you did your devotion basedoff of Luke 11, verses 1 through
13.
And this is, of course, wherethe disciples asked Jesus to
teach them how to pray.
You shared with us a little bitabout your mom's influence on
you in your prayer life and howshe helped form you in faith.
Salmoon (01:44):
Yeah, especially when I was reading this scripture
passage I mean, we have heard itmultiple times, the Lord's
Prayer, and one of probably thefirst ones kids know about this
passage.
So but this time, when I wasreading that, the very first
(02:05):
verse, lord teach us to pray.
That really caught my attentionand I was like, wow, who are
the people who taught me to pray?
And the first person who cameto my mind was my mother.
You know, she was not a, shedid not have any, she did not
have any formal education, butshe had a lot of life
(02:29):
experiences.
Earlier this year she passedaway, but one of the very first
things she taught me and mysiblings were to pray.
And every single morning.
I remember before breakfast,and sometimes nowadays I feel
like if I say it or it might benot politically correct also,
(02:55):
but before breakfast she waslike no breakfast until you pray
, breakfast until you pray.
So those small moments reallyinstilled in our lives and you
know over time now, when I lookback into that, the habit of
(03:18):
praying, when she made us topray every single morning.
So as a family we used to prayindividually, every person
differently, in the morning, andthen later in the evening,
before sleeping.
We used to pray as a family, sothat was our family routine and
my mother was the veryinstrumental person who made it
happen.
And I feel like now that is why, thank God, still there are
(03:46):
moments when, of course, as ahuman, we don't pray, but uh,
but I mean, I'm talking abouttaking time and sit down and
pray in that sense, but back ofmy mind, I feel like that habit
instill in me a lot.
Yeah.
Melissa (04:04):
Well, you used a good word habit.
Well, I've got a question aboutthat, but I do want to ask this
one first.
So remind me how long you'vebeen a priest.
Salmoon (04:13):
So I am a priest two years now.
Melissa (04:16):
Two years Okay.
Salmoon (04:18):
We know each other for a long time.
Melissa (04:20):
I know I didn't realize it was just two years.
That's amazing.
Well, I also know that you'vehad a lifelong faith and clearly
prayer isn't new to you.
You had such a strong faithfulinfluence in your life, in your
mom, who modeled praying withoutceasing.
So you've been around that,that's how you were formed, and
(04:40):
so you're now a priest.
And so I'm curious how mightyou, as a priest who has been
around this his whole life,encourage folks who haven't had
that similar influence to evenstart praying?
Salmoon (04:54):
Hmm, I think so.
I have been asked that questionmultiple times by a few people,
that question multiple times bya few people.
I think part of my take on thisalways is that prayer is the
way of building relationshipwith God, with Jesus.
(05:16):
And I mean, even in thisscripture, when we see that we
pray, jesus taught them firstthing our Father.
There is a relationship aspectin that.
So in the devotion, when peoplewill read that, there is that
aspect of we pray to become likeJesus, it's not like, of course
(05:41):
, there are moments when we askthings, there are moments when
we give thanks, and BishopWright actually he talked a lot
about adoration, prayer,adoration is part of the prayer
also, and giving thanks A lot oftime.
We ask a lot of things in ourprayer, always needs, needs,
(06:02):
which is great, but the firstpart of the prayer is adoration.
So I talk a lot about adoration, giving thanks and then, of
course, asking for our needs,and that through that whole
system we build relationshipwith Jesus, with God, with the
Holy Spirit, and I feel like ourfocus or our desire through
(06:29):
every prayer is to be like him.
Jesus said our father, and whenhe say he want us to be, to say
that to God also.
Our father, when he say,forgive others, he forgave
others, and then he want us toforgive also.
Our Father.
When he said, forgive others,he forgave others and then he
want us to forgive others also,he asked like all those things
he thy will be done.
(06:50):
He fulfilled the will of theFather and he asked us to
fulfill the will of the Fatheralso.
So he practically dideverything what he taught us to
pray, which means the purpose ofthe prayer is to be like Jesus,
love like Jesus, pray likeJesus, forgive like Jesus,
(07:11):
welcome strangers like Jesus.
The way he did that.
So I think I always talk topeople.
Focus of prayer is, of course,as I mentioned earlier,
thanksgiving and adoration andneeds and all sorts of things,
but at the end of the day it's arelationship with Jesus also.
Melissa (07:29):
Yeah, so, and you, you know you just talked about
adoration and gratitude andThanksgiving and intercession,
all those different types ofprayers.
I know there's a lot ofdifferent ways to pray, types of
prayers.
I know there's a lot ofdifferent ways to pray and I
think prayer can be intimidatingfor those wanting a
relationship with God but whohaven't yet been lifelong
prayers.
So I'm curious Salmoon, do youthink there's any wrong way to
(07:52):
pray?
Salmoon (07:53):
No, I think all sorts of prayers are welcome,
especially, I mean I at thecathedral.
I lead one of the youngprofessionals group as well,
those young people between theage of 20 to 40, I'm still
consider myself a youngprofessional so they have a lot
(08:15):
of questions about, especiallyabout oh, we never prayed
formally, especially sitting inthe church or kneeling down, or
you know lots of postures, andwe are Episcopalians and we like
tradition.
So they they had, they havequestions a lot about these
things and I always tell themthat prayer is.
(08:36):
Prayer is whatever comes fromyour heart.
It is the, it is a desire thatyou are putting out to God or
whatever you have in your heart.
And that's how I feel.
Like, of course, earlyChristians in the first, second,
third till fifth century oreven later on, they gave us a
(08:59):
lot of different models ofprayer.
Those were really beautiful andwonderful prayers and those
were just simple words.
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God,have mercy on me.
So I was talking about theecumenical work and I live in an
ecumenical household by myselfand whenever I have a chance I
(09:19):
read the Eastern Orthodoxwritings.
Whenever I have a chance, I readthe Orthodox writing, eastern
Orthodox writings, and theprayer is an important part in
Eastern Orthodox theology andyou know, right from the
beginning of Christianity therewere beautiful prayers and there
are simple prayers also, justprayers like Lord Jesus Christ,
son of God, have mercy on me, asinner.
And you know you pray over andover and over again, to the
(09:45):
point where it becomes prayer,without ceasing, like even if
you're sleeping or even ifyou're running, even if you are
jogging or cooking I lovecooking so in back of your mind
those words are still going on.
And you know I have a friendwho called me to pray for her
(10:06):
and when I was yesterday Icooked and I was like back of my
mind was going on Lord JesusChrist, son of God, have mercy
on this person.
So I mean prayer can be veryexpansive words or just these
simple words.
Melissa (10:46):
Yeah, and so I also want to lift up the fact that
you're a new daddy, yay,congrats.
So I believe you have afour-month-old now.
Salmoon (10:57):
Yep.
Melissa (10:58):
And you are likely going to care about habit
forming right, and so I amcurious, like, where do you
start?
You got to start somewhere.
I'm just going to tell you alittle story.
I was really intimidated.
I was a youth leader, youthdirector gosh, 20 years ago, and
I was raised as an Episcopalianand so, being raised up and
(11:21):
lifted up in the Episcopalchurch, I loved me some good
Book of Common Prayer.
I never really tried to pray.
That wasn't wrote in that.
I read it.
I was sheepish around prayingoff the cuff until I realized I
have a little girl.
(11:41):
My daughter Tally was only twoyears old at that point and I
realized I'm like I got to learnhow to start praying because I
was working at a Presbyterianchurch and I had to pray with my
youth and lead youth in prayer,and so I practiced with my
daughter Like that's where I didit, so at bedtime we would get
together and that's where Ilearned how to pray in front of
(12:04):
others, praying where I didn'tfeel like I was being judged for
the words that I was choosing,and it was really a great
practice, and so that's how Ihelped her start a habit.
Do you have any ideas about howyour mom started that with you
or what your plans are for yourlittle guy.
Salmoon (12:21):
Yeah, that's.
You know.
Yesterday I was sharing thealmost the same thing with my
wife, also about my mother, andshe was like I hope that you're
going to teach to our son alsothe same habit to pray.
So, thank God.
Baby showers, we got a lot ofbooks from the cathedral people
(12:45):
about prayers, about psalms.
So I think I love psalms.
Um, so I think I I love psalms.
So I will start and I alreadystarted reading psalms when he
is about to go to bed and psalmsare prayers and psalms are
beautiful prayers ofthanksgiving, prayers of, uh,
adoration or prayers when youare in need, so all sorts of
(13:08):
things.
So I start reading readingPsalms to him and I think he
will learn through that as well.
You know, there is a person youmentioned about Book of Common
Prayer, one of my parishioners.
He came from anotherdenomination to the Episcopal
Church, and he's one of theregular parishioners, especially
at our 1215 Eucharist everysingle day.
(13:32):
We have a Eucharist serviceevery single day at 1215 at the
cathedral and he loved comingfrom the very evangelical, very
charismatic background.
Now he is in love with theliturgy of the Anglican Church,
of the Episcopal Church, and healways carried a Book of Common
Prayer with him and he said thischurch, or this tradition,
(13:56):
opened a new way for me to praythe prayers which were written
500 years or.
Some of the theology is from theearly church.
Everything in the Book ofCommon Prayer came from Bible.
A lot of people make joke thatEpiscopalians they don't read
Bible.
Well, we read Bible through theBook of Common Prayer too.
(14:17):
So I think there are multipleways to pray and Book of Common
Prayer is one of the beautifulways.
I think Every prayer in that isprobably very, very touching to
me and whenever I pray Collectof Purity at the beginning of
(14:39):
every Eucharistic service itfeels like I am.
These are words probablywritten came from Psalm 51, but
I feel like those are the wordsof my heart also.
Melissa (14:52):
Well, you, earlier on in your devotion you used a
small but mighty word humility.
Yeah, and I do have to say too,I read a really great book by a
very popular Episcopal authorand illustrator.
His name is Roger Hutchison.
He wrote a book called theSparrow's Prayer and it's about
(15:15):
a bird trying to find theperfect words and, you know,
asking.
You know has a lot ofinteractions.
It's a children's book, butit's really by the end it's like
Sparrow's life and the waySparrow lived.
It is also an offering, kind oflike a prayer.
So I don't know that I'm makinga right or wrong.
I'm pretty sure there is nowrong way.
(15:35):
Just pray right, because itstarts that I think prayer is
the backbone of the relationshipthat we have with God.
That's what your point was with.
It's a relationship.
I am curious about humility,though.
Where and why do you believehumility is important?
Salmoon (15:51):
You know, in that specific passage, when the
disciples who were probably allof the men, and there were some
women who were part of the groupas well, probably they learned
from the early scriptures how topray.
They knew a lot of things fromthe Hebrew scriptures but they
(16:22):
were still eager to learn whatJesus needs to tell, teach them.
So they came to Jesus and theyasked Jesus that Lord, teach us
how to pray, teach us.
There was a level of humilityputting down yourself, and I
feel like in praying, when webow our head or even if we are
in some kind of a posture, weput ourselves down in front of
(16:42):
God or in front of Jesus throughthe power of the Holy Spirit.
And that is a great humility.
When we fully trust God's will,when we fully say God, let your
will be done in my life, aswhatever is your will, so
there's a huge surrender,there's a huge humility, part of
(17:04):
humility in that way.
So that's how I feel.
Prayer is a posture where weput ourselves in a very humble
way to God, in front of God.
It's for me and I'm sure peoplehave a different a lot of
scholarly explanations of thesethings, but for me praying is
(17:30):
humility explanations of thesethings, but for me, praying is
humility.
Melissa (17:36):
Salmoon, thank you so much for spending time with us.
I'm actually going to offer aprayer right now.
It's one of those like, off ofthe cuff, didn't practice it,
and I'm just feeling so moved.
And so, friends, this is notrehearsed or practiced, but I
invite you to pray with me.
Let's pray.
Gracious God, we're so gratefulfor the ways that you show up
into our lives.
We're grateful for all the waysthat you have blessed us and
blessed creation through itsexistence and especially through
(17:58):
your Jesus Christ.
I'm especially grateful for ourfriend Salmoon Bashir, who is
serving faithfully in his roleas the canon of liturgy and
ecumenism, and I'm grateful forhis newborn son's very life and
existence.
So, God, I ask that youcontinue to show up big in their
lives, dazzle and surprise themand help them live fully into
(18:22):
the ways that you would havethem be, to make your will and
love known to all that they maymeet.
We're grateful for For Peopleand we ask you to continue to
bless this ministry In Jesus'name we pray.
Amen.
Salmoon, thank you so much, andlisteners, thank you for tuning
in and listening to For People.
You can follow us on Instagramand Facebook at Bishop Rob
(18:42):
Wright, or by visiting www.
forpeopledigital.
Please subscribe, leave areview and we'll be back with
you next week.
We pray to become like Jesus.
Of course, there are momentswhen we ask things, there are
moments when we give thanks.
Through that whole system, webuild relationship with Jesus,
with God, with the Holy Spirit.
I feel like our focus or ourdesire through every prayer is
to be like Him, love like Jesus,pray like Jesus, forgive like
(00:23):
Jesus, welcome strangers likeJesus, the way he did that.
Melissa (00:40):
Welcome to For People with Bishop Rob Wright.
I'm your host Melissa Rau andthis is a conversation inspired
by For Faith, a weekly devotionsent out every Friday.
You can find a link to thisweek's For Faith and a link to
subscribe in the episode'sdescription.
Now, over the last few weekswe've had special guests from
the Diocese of Atlanta, sinceBishop Rob is focusing on
(01:02):
continuing education, and thisweek we have the Reverend Canon
Salmoon Bashir, who serves as acanon for liturgy and ecumenism
with the Cathedral of St.
Philip in Atlanta.
Did I get that right?
I think I said ecumenismcorrectly.
Salmoon (01:18):
That's correct.
Melissa (01:21):
We're really glad you're with us.
Salmoon (01:23):
Thank you.
Melissa (01:24):
Awesome.
Well, we're so glad you're withus and I'm glad for your words
of wisdom.
So you did your devotion basedoff of Luke 11, verses 1 through
13.
And this is, of course, wherethe disciples asked Jesus to
teach them how to pray.
You shared with us a little bitabout your mom's influence on
you in your prayer life and howshe helped form you in faith.
Salmoon (01:44):
Yeah, especially when I was reading this scripture
passage I mean, we have heard itmultiple times, the Lord's
Prayer, and one of probably thefirst ones kids know about this
passage.
So but this time, when I wasreading that, the very first
(02:05):
verse, lord teach us to pray.
That really caught my attentionand I was like, wow, who are
the people who taught me to pray?
And the first person who cameto my mind was my mother.
You know, she was not a, shedid not have any, she did not
have any formal education, butshe had a lot of life
(02:29):
experiences.
Earlier this year she passedaway, but one of the very first
things she taught me and mysiblings were to pray.
And every single morning.
I remember before breakfast,and sometimes nowadays I feel
like if I say it or it might benot politically correct also,
(02:55):
but before breakfast she waslike no breakfast until you pray
, breakfast until you pray.
So those small moments reallyinstilled in our lives and you
know over time now, when I lookback into that, the habit of
(03:18):
praying, when she made us topray every single morning.
So as a family we used to prayindividually, every person
differently, in the morning, andthen later in the evening,
before sleeping.
We used to pray as a family, sothat was our family routine and
my mother was the veryinstrumental person who made it
happen.
And I feel like now that is why, thank God, still there are
(03:46):
moments when, of course, as ahuman, we don't pray, but uh,
but I mean, I'm talking abouttaking time and sit down and
pray in that sense, but back ofmy mind, I feel like that habit
instill in me a lot.
Yeah.
Melissa (04:04):
Well, you used a good word habit.
Well, I've got a question aboutthat, but I do want to ask this
one first.
So remind me how long you'vebeen a priest.
Salmoon (04:13):
So I am a priest two years now.
Melissa (04:16):
Two years Okay.
Salmoon (04:18):
We know each other for a long time.
Melissa (04:20):
I know I didn't realize it was just two years.
That's amazing.
Well, I also know that you'vehad a lifelong faith and clearly
prayer isn't new to you.
You had such a strong faithfulinfluence in your life, in your
mom, who modeled praying withoutceasing.
So you've been around that,that's how you were formed, and
(04:40):
so you're now a priest.
And so I'm curious how mightyou, as a priest who has been
around this his whole life,encourage folks who haven't had
that similar influence to evenstart praying?
Salmoon (04:54):
Hmm, I think so.
I have been asked that questionmultiple times by a few people,
that question multiple times bya few people.
I think part of my take on thisalways is that prayer is the
way of building relationshipwith God, with Jesus.
(05:16):
And I mean, even in thisscripture, when we see that we
pray, jesus taught them firstthing our Father.
There is a relationship aspectin that.
So in the devotion, when peoplewill read that, there is that
aspect of we pray to become likeJesus, it's not like, of course
(05:41):
, there are moments when we askthings, there are moments when
we give thanks, and BishopWright actually he talked a lot
about adoration, prayer,adoration is part of the prayer
also, and giving thanks A lot oftime.
We ask a lot of things in ourprayer, always needs, needs,
(06:02):
which is great, but the firstpart of the prayer is adoration.
So I talk a lot about adoration, giving thanks and then, of
course, asking for our needs,and that through that whole
system we build relationshipwith Jesus, with God, with the
Holy Spirit, and I feel like ourfocus or our desire through
(06:29):
every prayer is to be like him.
Jesus said our father, and whenhe say he want us to be, to say
that to God also.
Our father, when he say,forgive others, he forgave
others, and then he want us toforgive also.
Our Father.
When he said, forgive others,he forgave others and then he
want us to forgive others also,he asked like all those things
he thy will be done.
(06:50):
He fulfilled the will of theFather and he asked us to
fulfill the will of the Fatheralso.
So he practically dideverything what he taught us to
pray, which means the purpose ofthe prayer is to be like Jesus,
love like Jesus, pray likeJesus, forgive like Jesus,
(07:11):
welcome strangers like Jesus.
The way he did that.
So I think I always talk topeople.
Focus of prayer is, of course,as I mentioned earlier,
thanksgiving and adoration andneeds and all sorts of things,
but at the end of the day it's arelationship with Jesus also.
Melissa (07:29):
Yeah, so, and you, you know you just talked about
adoration and gratitude andThanksgiving and intercession,
all those different types ofprayers.
I know there's a lot ofdifferent ways to pray, types of
prayers.
I know there's a lot ofdifferent ways to pray and I
think prayer can be intimidatingfor those wanting a
relationship with God but whohaven't yet been lifelong
prayers.
So I'm curious Salmoon, do youthink there's any wrong way to
(07:52):
pray?
Salmoon (07:53):
No, I think all sorts of prayers are welcome,
especially, I mean I at thecathedral.
I lead one of the youngprofessionals group as well,
those young people between theage of 20 to 40, I'm still
consider myself a youngprofessional so they have a lot
(08:15):
of questions about, especiallyabout oh, we never prayed
formally, especially sitting inthe church or kneeling down, or
you know lots of postures, andwe are Episcopalians and we like
tradition.
So they they had, they havequestions a lot about these
things and I always tell themthat prayer is.
(08:36):
Prayer is whatever comes fromyour heart.
It is the, it is a desire thatyou are putting out to God or
whatever you have in your heart.
And that's how I feel.
Like, of course, earlyChristians in the first, second,
third till fifth century oreven later on, they gave us a
(08:59):
lot of different models ofprayer.
Those were really beautiful andwonderful prayers and those
were just simple words.
Lord Jesus Christ, son of God,have mercy on me.
So I was talking about theecumenical work and I live in an
ecumenical household by myselfand whenever I have a chance I
(09:19):
read the Eastern Orthodoxwritings.
Whenever I have a chance, I readthe Orthodox writing, eastern
Orthodox writings, and theprayer is an important part in
Eastern Orthodox theology andyou know, right from the
beginning of Christianity therewere beautiful prayers and there
are simple prayers also, justprayers like Lord Jesus Christ,
son of God, have mercy on me, asinner.
And you know you pray over andover and over again, to the
(09:45):
point where it becomes prayer,without ceasing, like even if
you're sleeping or even ifyou're running, even if you are
jogging or cooking I lovecooking so in back of your mind
those words are still going on.
And you know I have a friendwho called me to pray for her
(10:06):
and when I was yesterday Icooked and I was like back of my
mind was going on Lord JesusChrist, son of God, have mercy
on this person.
So I mean prayer can be veryexpansive words or just these
simple words.
Melissa (10:46):
Yeah, and so I also want to lift up the fact that
you're a new daddy, yay,congrats.
So I believe you have afour-month-old now.
Salmoon (10:57):
Yep.
Melissa (10:58):
And you are likely going to care about habit
forming right, and so I amcurious, like, where do you
start?
You got to start somewhere.
I'm just going to tell you alittle story.
I was really intimidated.
I was a youth leader, youthdirector gosh, 20 years ago, and
I was raised as an Episcopalianand so, being raised up and
(11:21):
lifted up in the Episcopalchurch, I loved me some good
Book of Common Prayer.
I never really tried to pray.
That wasn't wrote in that.
I read it.
I was sheepish around prayingoff the cuff until I realized I
have a little girl.
(11:41):
My daughter Tally was only twoyears old at that point and I
realized I'm like I got to learnhow to start praying because I
was working at a Presbyterianchurch and I had to pray with my
youth and lead youth in prayer,and so I practiced with my
daughter Like that's where I didit, so at bedtime we would get
together and that's where Ilearned how to pray in front of
(12:04):
others, praying where I didn'tfeel like I was being judged for
the words that I was choosing,and it was really a great
practice, and so that's how Ihelped her start a habit.
Do you have any ideas about howyour mom started that with you
or what your plans are for yourlittle guy.
Salmoon (12:21):
Yeah, that's.
You know.
Yesterday I was sharing thealmost the same thing with my
wife, also about my mother, andshe was like I hope that you're
going to teach to our son alsothe same habit to pray.
So, thank God.
Baby showers, we got a lot ofbooks from the cathedral people
(12:45):
about prayers, about psalms.
So I think I love psalms.
Um, so I think I I love psalms.
So I will start and I alreadystarted reading psalms when he
is about to go to bed and psalmsare prayers and psalms are
beautiful prayers ofthanksgiving, prayers of, uh,
adoration or prayers when youare in need, so all sorts of
(13:08):
things.
So I start reading readingPsalms to him and I think he
will learn through that as well.
You know, there is a person youmentioned about Book of Common
Prayer, one of my parishioners.
He came from anotherdenomination to the Episcopal
Church, and he's one of theregular parishioners, especially
at our 1215 Eucharist everysingle day.
(13:32):
We have a Eucharist serviceevery single day at 1215 at the
cathedral and he loved comingfrom the very evangelical, very
charismatic background.
Now he is in love with theliturgy of the Anglican Church,
of the Episcopal Church, and healways carried a Book of Common
Prayer with him and he said thischurch, or this tradition,
(13:56):
opened a new way for me to praythe prayers which were written
500 years or.
Some of the theology is from theearly church.
Everything in the Book ofCommon Prayer came from Bible.
A lot of people make joke thatEpiscopalians they don't read
Bible.
Well, we read Bible through theBook of Common Prayer too.
(14:17):
So I think there are multipleways to pray and Book of Common
Prayer is one of the beautifulways.
I think Every prayer in that isprobably very, very touching to
me and whenever I pray Collectof Purity at the beginning of
(14:39):
every Eucharistic service itfeels like I am.
These are words probablywritten came from Psalm 51, but
I feel like those are the wordsof my heart also.
Melissa (14:52):
Well, you, earlier on in your devotion you used a
small but mighty word humility.
Yeah, and I do have to say too,I read a really great book by a
very popular Episcopal authorand illustrator.
His name is Roger Hutchison.
He wrote a book called theSparrow's Prayer and it's about
(15:15):
a bird trying to find theperfect words and, you know,
asking.
You know has a lot ofinteractions.
It's a children's book, butit's really by the end it's like
Sparrow's life and the waySparrow lived.
It is also an offering, kind oflike a prayer.
So I don't know that I'm makinga right or wrong.
I'm pretty sure there is nowrong way.
(15:35):
Just pray right, because itstarts that I think prayer is
the backbone of the relationshipthat we have with God.
That's what your point was with.
It's a relationship.
I am curious about humility,though.
Where and why do you believehumility is important?
Salmoon (15:51):
You know, in that specific passage, when the
disciples who were probably allof the men, and there were some
women who were part of the groupas well, probably they learned
from the early scriptures how topray.
They knew a lot of things fromthe Hebrew scriptures but they
(16:22):
were still eager to learn whatJesus needs to tell, teach them.
So they came to Jesus and theyasked Jesus that Lord, teach us
how to pray, teach us.
There was a level of humilityputting down yourself, and I
feel like in praying, when webow our head or even if we are
in some kind of a posture, weput ourselves down in front of
(16:42):
God or in front of Jesus throughthe power of the Holy Spirit.
And that is a great humility.
When we fully trust God's will,when we fully say God, let your
will be done in my life, aswhatever is your will, so
there's a huge surrender,there's a huge humility, part of
(17:04):
humility in that way.
So that's how I feel.
Prayer is a posture where weput ourselves in a very humble
way to God, in front of God.
It's for me and I'm sure peoplehave a different a lot of
scholarly explanations of thesethings, but for me praying is
(17:30):
humility explanations of thesethings, but for me, praying is
humility.
Melissa (17:36):
Salmoon, thank you so much for spending time with us.
I'm actually going to offer aprayer right now.
It's one of those like, off ofthe cuff, didn't practice it,
and I'm just feeling so moved.
And so, friends, this is notrehearsed or practiced, but I
invite you to pray with me.
Let's pray.
Gracious God, we're so gratefulfor the ways that you show up
into our lives.
We're grateful for all the waysthat you have blessed us and
blessed creation through itsexistence and especially through
(17:58):
your Jesus Christ.
I'm especially grateful for ourfriend Salmoon Bashir, who is
serving faithfully in his roleas the canon of liturgy and
ecumenism, and I'm grateful forhis newborn son's very life and
existence.
So, God, I ask that youcontinue to show up big in their
lives, dazzle and surprise themand help them live fully into
(18:22):
the ways that you would havethem be, to make your will and
love known to all that they maymeet.
We're grateful for For Peopleand we ask you to continue to
bless this ministry In Jesus'name we pray.
Amen.
Salmoon, thank you so much, andlisteners, thank you for tuning
in and listening to For People.
You can follow us on Instagramand Facebook at Bishop Rob
(18:42):
Wright, or by visiting www.
forpeopledigital.
Please subscribe, leave areview and we'll be back with
you next week.
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