Originally the Prayer Notes in this book began with an idea of sporadically sending short notes about prayer to a few close friends with whom I share conversations about the spiritual life. Early in the pregnancy of this inspiration I began jotting down ideas I thought would be helpful for the friends receiving these Prayer Notes. As the number of Prayer Notes began to grow, so did my concern about the amount of time and work involved in addressing and mailing them. Logically, the easiest way would be to send them by the relatively effortless vehicle of e-mail, and I confess I entertained that temptation. In the past I staunchly resisted any use of e-mail, realizing it could easily escalate into a-mail --an avalanche of correspondence. Perhaps my infatuation with remaining an electronically celibate hermit provided the grace to resist that temptation. Then, in the midst of deliberating about the project I had a surprise visitor. It was an inspiration that said, "Edward, your notes could become the genesis of a manuscript for a small book intended for both known and unknown friends." And thus was birthed the book you are presently holding in your hands.