MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson author Shelley Petz is encouraging readers to explore prayer beyond traditional boundaries in her new book, “Meet You at Nine.”
The book is a collection of journal entries documenting Petz’s experiences with prayer, including personal struggles, unexpected lessons and moments that deepened her relationship with God.
Petz said the writings remained on her computer for years before a book study encouraged her to quiet the inner critic that had kept her from publishing them.
“I knew for a long time I was invited to write the book, and finally I said, ‘Let’s do it,’” Petz said during an interview on the BW Morning Show. “If writing the book could help one person, I decided to get it off the computer and into the world.”
Petz selected journal entries that surprised her, remained with her or spoke most powerfully to her. She hopes those experiences will help readers examine their own spiritual journeys.
Her understanding of prayer began to expand during a silent retreat at a monastery, where she worked alongside monks. The experience helped her see everyday activities—including walking, painting, cooking and cleaning—as possible forms of prayer.
“It really opened me to think about life as being a way of prayer,” Petz said.
Petz also was influenced by Mark Batterson’s book “The Circle Maker,” which examines the practice of praying boldly and sometimes walking literal circles around the places or situations being lifted in prayer.
One formative experience came after three Hutchinson high school students were killed in a train crash about 34 years ago. Petz had attended church camp with two of the victims.
As she and others struggled to find words amid their grief, they began asking whether their prayers could be accompanied by action. Petz recalled joining people from Hutchinson and across Kansas in writing to elected officials, including the late U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, about improving the visibility of railroad cars at night.
“Out of our deepest prayers that we didn’t know how to pray, action came,” Petz said. “Prayer may not be just silence. It might be taking an action when we don’t know what else to do.”
Movement remains an important part of Petz’s prayer life. She practices walking prayers and sometimes uses movements that cross the body’s midline, helping her engage her mind, body and spirit together.
Although readers have asked Petz how to pray, she does not describe “Meet You at Nine” as a how-to guide. Instead, she sees it as an invitation to try something new and recognize connections between her experiences and those of the reader.
Petz said sharing personal struggles was one of the most difficult parts of writing the book. She occasionally wondered whether she had revealed too much but ultimately chose to release those concerns.
For someone who wants to develop a deeper prayer life but does not know where to begin, Petz recommends starting with gratitude and paying closer attention to everyday surroundings.
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you,’ then that’s enough,” Petz said, quoting a statement attributed to German theologian Meister Eckhart.
Petz hopes readers finish the book knowing they are loved, supported and not alone, regardless of whether they are experiencing a difficult or joyful season.
“Meet You at Nine” by Shelley Petz is available through Amazon.