January 2007

Prayer

Dear Everyone

When a Doctoral student at Prnceton asked, “ What is there left in the world for an original dissertation research?” Albert Einstein replied, “Find out about prayer. Somebody must find out about prayer”. So begins Philip Yancy’s latest book “Prayer in which he explores his own questions about prayer and tells other people’s stories. He goes on to say that everyone prays at some time – even if it is only when danger threatens. …”In much of the world, modern scepticism taints prayer. We breathe in an atmosphere of doubt. Why does God let history lurch on without intervening? What good will prayer do against a nuclear threat, against terrorism and hurricanes and global climate change? ………..Prayer is to the sceptic a delusion, a waste of time. To the believer it represents perhaps the most important use of time. As a Christian I believe the latter. Why then must prayer be so problematic?”

The news media have been sponsoring a continuing debate about God in which prayer is an important issue. If we reduce prayer to using God to trying to control others or ONLY to get what we want, we have totally missed the width and depth of God’s on going relationship with us. It would be like having a relationship with someone where the sole purpose of seeing them was to ask for money, things, or help of some sort and [here the problematic part comes in] even then, not being sure of getting exactly what one asks for.

Prayer is at the heart of our Christian faith. In Henri Nouwen’s words “To pray is to walk in the full light of God, and to say simply , without holding back, “I am human and you are God.” At that moment conversion occurs, the restoration of true relationship.’
In other words, if you need to talk – talk, if you need to cry – cry, if you have nothing to say – be silent, if you have deep shame, say so, if you have longings for healing for yourself, friend and neighbours, the world , let the spirit of God help you, for what you can’t express will be heard. If you need help, ask, if you don’t know – listen. Listen through the words of scripture, the people around you, the unexpected place you find God at work in your life and others and in the silence.. Jesus shows us how God is love among us. Pray together and by yourself.

The season of Lent, the preparation for Good Friday and Easter, is traditionally a time when people are encouraged to intentionally make time to allow God’s love to search our hearts, minds and actions. Prayer, in the many forms and ways we pray, is part of this. In a world where communications are swift and the pace fast, during Lent we are reminded to slow down and be still in the presence of God.

Psalm 19 – Jim Cotter’s version

The web of the world trembles,
The whisper of a great wind passing
The carressing of strings makes music,
its sighs reach the ends of the world.

Praise to the Lord who moves the stars
and stirs in the depths of our hearts.

The stars in the heavens chant the glory of God,
Pulsing their praise across aeons of space
From the soft radiance of a summer dawn
To the stormy sunset of a winter’s evening,
From the darkest and wildest of mountain nights
To the stillness of moonlit seas,
the voice of praise is never silent
Yet all without language or sound of any voice.

Praise to the Lord who moves the stars
and stirs in the depths of our hearts.

A Benedictine Blessing
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger, at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
In the name of Jesus


Rev. Margaret Anne Low