Just talk to me
This beautiful poem was written by Bill Colclough, from Lee Abbey's Devon Community. It has reached a lot of people as a simple reflection on how we should pray. Many have found it useful as a way of relaxing in God's presence and removing any pretence at prayer.
There are only a few prohibitions and they all have to do with pretence, deception.
Don't be afraid if you don't understand
Don't fear you won't do it right
Don't worry about performing
Just talk to me
Don't need no words you can't define
Don't need a special voice you keep reserved just for me
Don't even have to close your eyes
Just talk to me
Don't need to wait until you're hopeless
Don't need a particular reason to call
Don't need to fake your holiness
Just talk to me
Don't worry that you don't love me enough
Don't need to do anything special
Don't pretend you're someone or something that you're not
Just talk to me
Don't need some formal speech about all the social and theological issues of the day
Don't be afraid I won't listen
Don't use lots of fancy phrases you heard some preacher say
Just talk to me
Don't try to be impressive
Don't think about your image
Don't need to be self-conscious
Just talk to me
Don't think it has to make sense
Don't feel the need to use complete sentences
Don't feel the need to use words at all
Just talk to me
Don't pretend to be happy if you are not
Don't be overwhelmed if you feel hopeless
Don't worry if I'll do what you ask
Just talk to me
Don't feel you have to take all day or all night
Don't feel the need to be serious or sombre or stressed
Don't even think about wearing your fancy clothes
Just talk to me
Don't worry if you're pleasing me
Don't think you have to have all the answers
Don't try to feel anything different at all
Just talk to me
Don't worry about feeling terribly confident
Don't try to change the world
Don't think yourself too bad or too good to do this
Just talk to me
Don't spend your emotional energy getting all worked up over this
Don't think of me as a perfectionist
Don't believe everything you hear down there
Just talk to me
Don't keep a list or record of when we chat
Don't need to make an appointment
Don't stop to talk to the receptionist
Just talk to me
Don't try to be your preacher
Don't try to be your mother
Don't pretend you've got it all together
Just talk to me
Don't need no special glasses
Don't need a microphone
Don't worry if it isn't good
Just talk to me
Don't lie to me
Don't question if I understand
Don't think it doesn't matter
Just talk to me
Don't bother about the rules
Don't bother about whether there are any
Don't pursue anything by which to measure yourself
Just talk to me
Don't confuse me with your father
Don't put that kind of pressure on him or yourself
Don't try get away from the point of who I am
Just talk to me
Don't try to impress me
Don't try to hide anything
Don't concern yourself about whether you're wasting my time with trivialities
Just talk to me
Don't ask if I know about the latest hospital report
Don't think I don't know all the latest gossip
Don't wonder if I know the best possible outcome
Just talk to me
Don't think anything is too insignificant to bring up
Don't worry if you cry
Don't worry if you don't
Just talk to me
Don't be afraid
Don't be unnatural
Don't be anything you don't want to be
Just talk to me
Don't hesitate to shout if you feel like it
Don't hesitate to rant
Don't pretend
Just talk to me
Don't forget to laugh with me
Don't forget that I'm the one who started all this
Don't forget I already know what you're going to say
Just talk to me
Don't worry about what I might say or think about you
Don't be concerned if you lose your train of thought
Don't be surprised if I talk back
Just talk to me
Don't forget to listen
Don't forget I care more than you can possibly imagine
Don't worry about the silence
Just talk to me
Just talk to me
Just talk to me