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I've
been asked about prayer more than any other topic of faith. That's not really
surprising. Prayer is a small word, but it encompasses a large part of
faith-perhaps all that is essential. After last Sunday's sermon on
prayer-dealing with the question "does prayer really work and why we should pray
at all"-I decided to set down in brief form everything I've ever learned about
prayer. Prayer
is meditation, centering ourselves and stilling our bodies and minds. It is a
letting go of doing in order to be open to the presence of God-to life in the
present tense. Prayer as meditation can lead to greater self-awareness, clarity
of identity and direction, and increased capacity for intimacy and connectedness
with God. Prayer
is a process of spiritual growth. As we prayer for things to happen, prayer is
the journey of being changed and of expanding our spiritual presence. Prayer is
being touched by the numinous and being altered-even reborn. This is true for
individuals and also for communities of people. Prayer changes us. It draws us
together. Prayer
is putting love into action. To intercede on behalf of another's or the needs of
a community of people is the action of allowing their needs to be the focus of
our thoughts and our energy. We begin to see others with the eyes of
God. Prayer
is preparation for life where we struggle with life's challenges within
ourselves before we have to do so outside ourselves. Finally, we return within
to reflect and regroup, and the result is spiritual growth. Prayer is that whole
process. Prayer
changes God. That sounds controversial, but our prayer changes what is possible
for God to do in this world. God seems to have chosen to be in partnership with
people for the reshaping of the world in terms of the values we call justice,
compassion, peace, and love. The more space we hold open through prayer,
individually and as communities, the more access God's Spirit has to make a
difference in our institutions and our world. Prayer
changes creation. Our prayer and God's passion work together and move the
universe in the direction of redemption so that the powers of darkness and the
dominant evil are not destroyed, but transformed into the nature and the light
of God. Prayer
is faith, an act of trust often when there is nothing else to do. Prayer is
active and also passive. It can be submissive and empowering. Prayer is a matter
of being and yet also of doing. Clearly, prayer is receiving, giving, preparing,
and even improvising. In many ways, the journey of faith is a journey of prayer.
Thanks for continuing
to bless me as we journey together. |
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