--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I…" description: "\"“I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/mary-oliver-570_blessed_i-don-t-know-exactly-what-a-prayer-is-i_179108.jpg" --- # I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to… ![“I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done?” quote by Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/mary-oliver-570_blessed_i-don-t-know-exactly-what-a-prayer-is-i_179108.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/mary-oliver-570_blessed_i-don-t-know-exactly-what-a-prayer-is-i_179108.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b99/mary-oliver-570_blessed_i-don-t-know-exactly-what-a-prayer-is-i_179108.jpg) > ““I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done?”” [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker questions the purpose of prayer, suggesting mindfulness and communion with nature as a form of spiritual practice. **In simple terms:** Prayer is replaced by attentive, peaceful presence in nature. Key Takeaway Embrace mindful presence in nature. Themes mindfulness spirituality nature reflection purpose Mood reflective serene Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily walks - meditation - gardening - quiet reflection Key Concepts contemplative practice existential inquiry nature worship Questions to Reflect On - What does attention to nature reveal about your inner needs? - How can you integrate this mindfulness into daily life? A Different Perspective May overlook structured religious traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-don-t-know-exactly-what-a-prayer-is-i-do-know-how-to-pay-attention-3/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-don-t-know-exactly-what-a-prayer-is-i-do-know-how-to-pay-attention-2/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“My love for you is a prayer, she thought. Love is the only prayer I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/my-love-for-you-is-a-prayer-she-thought-love-is-the-only-prayer-i-know/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [Prayer changes things. Prayer changes us. Prayer changes life. Sometimes an event has been manifested that needs to be stopped, midair. Don't pray just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/prayer-changes-things-prayer-changes-us-prayer-changes-life-sometimes/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [“Oh, let us rely more upon prayer! Do we not know that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6)?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknown-christian/oh-let-us-rely-more-upon-prayer-do-we-not-know-that-he-is-a-rewarder/) Unknown Christian > [We look upon prayer simply as a means of getting things for ourselves, but the biblical purpose of prayer is that we may get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-look-upon-prayer-simply-as-a-means-of-getting-things-for-ourselves/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The whole meaning of prayer is that we may know God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-whole-meaning-of-prayer-is-that-we-may-know-god/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [God is going to supply a million dollars, somebody is praying right now, right this second, you're praying for a million dollars. God has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-robertson/god-is-going-to-supply-a-million-dollars-somebody-is-praying-right/) [Pat Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-robertson/) > [“The most earnest prayer that I know is to ask for the life energy of the universe to come down into my body and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/the-most-earnest-prayer-that-i-know-is-to-ask-for-the-life-energy-of/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [I'll say a fucking prayer because I know it won't be answered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suicide-silence/i-ll-say-a-fucking-prayer-because-i-know-it-won-t-be-answered/) [Suicide Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suicide-silence/) > [We cannot know what prayer is for until we know that life is war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/we-cannot-know-what-prayer-is-for-until-we-know-that-life-is-war/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [A wise woman once said that every morning when you wake up you say a little prayer. After all, you never know what your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gossip-girl/a-wise-woman-once-said-that-every-morning-when-you-wake-up-you-say-a/) [Gossip Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gossip-girl/) > [The primary purpose of prayer is not to get something, but to know Someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/the-primary-purpose-of-prayer-is-not-to-get-something-but-to-know/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [“The prayer we know as “The Lord’s Prayer” came from the Lord Jesus in direct response to His disciples’ request: “Lord, teach us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/the-prayer-we-know-as-the-lord-s-prayer-came-from-the-lord-jesus-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [My hope and prayer is that everyone know and love our country for what she really is and what she stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/my-hope-and-prayer-is-that-everyone-know-and-love-our-country-for/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) ## More by Mary Oliver > [Belief isn't always easy. But this much I have learned--- if not enough else--- to live with my eyes open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/belief-isn-t-always-easy-but-this-much-i-have-learned-if-not-enough/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [In this universe we are given two gifts: the ability to love and the ability to question. Which are, at the same time, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/in-this-universe-we-are-given-two-gifts-the-ability-to-love-and-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [Poetry is one of the original arts, and it began, as did all the fine arts, within the original wilderness of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/poetry-is-one-of-the-original-arts-and-it-began-as-did-all-the-fine/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [The dream of my life is to lie down by a slow river and stare at the light in the trees - to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/the-dream-of-my-life-is-to-lie-down-by-a-slow-river-and-stare-at-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/tell-me-what-is-it-you-plan-to-do-with-your-one-wild-and-precious-life/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“All important ideas must include the trees, the mountains, and the rivers. • To understand many things you must reach out of your own condition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/all-important-ideas-must-include-the-trees-the-mountains-and-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“Sometimes I think, were I just a little rougher made, I would go altogether to the woods—to my work entirely, and solitude, a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/sometimes-i-think-were-i-just-a-little-rougher-made-i-would-go/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“First Snow The snow began here this morning and all day continued, its white rhetoric everywhere calling us back to why, how, whence such beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/first-snow-the-snow-began-here-this-morning-and-all-day-continued-its/) [mary oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“What can I say that I have not said before? So I’ll say it again. The leaf has a song in it. Stone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/what-can-i-say-that-i-have-not-said-before-so-i-ll-say-it-again-the/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [The sea is the most beautiful face in our universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/the-sea-is-the-most-beautiful-face-in-our-universe/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [There is nothing better than work. Work is also play; children know that. Children play earnestly as if it were work. But people grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/there-is-nothing-better-than-work-work-is-also-play-children-know/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“What will you do with your one precious, wild life?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/what-will-you-do-with-your-one-precious-wild-life/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“Poetry is a life-cherishing force. For poems are not words, after all, but fires for the cold, ropes let down to the lost, something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/poetry-is-a-life-cherishing-force-for-poems-are-not-words-after-all/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [“I stood like Adam in his lonely garden On that first morning, shaken out of sleep, Rubbing his eyes, listening, parting the leaves, Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/i-stood-like-adam-in-his-lonely-garden-on-that-first-morning-shaken/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) > [We all have a hungry heart, and one of the things we hunger for is happiness. So as much as I possibly could, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/we-all-have-a-hungry-heart-and-one-of-the-things-we-hunger-for-is/) [Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) [Explore all 470 Mary Oliver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/) ## More Blessed quotes > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [Literally every person in my life is so amazing. I even don't understand how I am so blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/literally-every-person-in-my-life-is-so-amazing-i-even-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [You know, I'm blessed. 'Blessed' is a better way of saying 'rich.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/you-know-i-m-blessed-blessed-is-a-better-way-of-saying-rich/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [All the dangers in our world are like a blessed wake up call. They tell us to live life NOW... not tomorrow, not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/all-the-dangers-in-our-world-are-like-a-blessed-wake-up-call-they/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [I've been blessed to have a body that's durable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-millsap/i-ve-been-blessed-to-have-a-body-that-s-durable/) [Paul Millsap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-millsap/) > [I feel that I'm very blessed. But with great blessings come great responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-feel-that-i-m-very-blessed-but-with-great-blessings-come-great/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/benny-carter-came-up-to-me-and-said-to-me-you-know-in-the-whole/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [I feel as if I have been blessed to undergo a transformation from 'gangster' to 'redeemed sinner with gangster proclivities.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-feel-as-if-i-have-been-blessed-to-undergo-a-transformation-from/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“The blood of Jesus Christ is as blessed and divine a payment for the transgressions of blaspheming Peter as for the shortcomings of loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-blood-of-jesus-christ-is-as-blessed-and-divine-a-payment-for-the/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [Without a trace of irony I can say I have been blessed with brilliant enemies. I owe them a great debt, because they redoubled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/without-a-trace-of-irony-i-can-say-i-have-been-blessed-with-brilliant/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) [Browse all 4,183 Blessed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. 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