The First Sunday in Lent of our book study with Max Vincent’s book, “Because of This I Rejoice,” begins with joyful prayer. I always think beginning any endeavor with prayer is a good idea, so I am happy that Vincent begins our Lenten journey in this way. I also appreciate that Vincent begins the chapter with the honest report of the difficulty of sustained prayer. The practice and discipline of prayer can be found in the group of things of life I would describe as “easy, yet not easy.” The practice of prayer is straightforwardly easy on the surface of things: you take a moment to reflect, to remember, to petition (ask), to consider the blessings (fortunate moments) of life, to give thanks, to ask for strength, etc. However, prayer is at the same time, frustratingly not easy: you are tired from a long day, has it really been a week since I last prayed and gave thanks, did I just eat my dinner without saying grace again, I wonder if other people really pray every day… Vincent honestly presents us with the challenge of prayer with his “young boy checklist” of things to be done before bed and their consequences: wash my face (if I don’t, my skin will break out and my mom will be upset with me), brush my teeth (if I don’t, cavities will certainly be my undoing and my dad will be upset with me), say my prayers (if I don’t…wait a minute, if I don’t, will anyone really know for sure, and God will forgive me…). Without any tangible consequences standing before us, our prayer lives can slip into untended, forgotten gardens of spiritual activity. So how do we fill our lives with joyful prayer?