The Rhythm of Prayer

Oh, how I have missed our midweek prayer sessions! With meetings, funeral, classes and college visits, I have missed all but two since the beginning of April. Getting back into the rhythm today was soothing to my spirit. I felt my heart open wide, and burdens roll off my back. I was grounded in God’s creation and lifted high in the embrace of the holy Trinity all at the same time.

We gather at ten a.m. in the chapel, briefly sharing concerns and/or joys. Then we experience the embodiment of prayer, allowing our bodies to take part in prayer that is bathed in scripture. These simple movements are gentle and can be done while seated if needed.

In the midst of a busy week that sometimes gets stressful, we often carry burdens in our bodies as well as our spirits. I invite you to come and allow God’s Spirit to meet you in community, offering you healing and refreshment for your walk in the world.

Philippians 1:9

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight.

The Never-Ceasing Love of God

I am in the second week of the two-week intensive for our Spring doctor of ministry courses. Currently, we are not allowed to say the “C” word [shhh, it’s church]. We are talking about our communities of faith, and the places where our communities of faith meet. Before the word became off-limits, our professor asked us to draw our image of “church.” This is my image. The triquetra in the center is my favorite image for the Trinity. Around it is the dance of all who make up the community of faith. What I could not draw is how at the same time, the center of the dance is the Trinity, the dance is also within the Trinity. And the movement, all of it, is the never-ceasing love of God.

“We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” 1 John 1:1-4

An Influx of God's Spirit

In our prayer small group this week, we heard Richard Rohr say that God answers every prayer with the gift of the Holy Spirit. This does not necessarily mean that our prayers for specific petitions will be answered immediately in the way that we ask. He says “the evidence is not that God is a problem solver, that God rushes in to do whatever we ask God to do.” “With an influx of Spirit, God answers the prayer.”

In Hebrew and Greek, the words for breath and Spirit are the same. In Hebrew, it is ruah; in Greek, pneuma. With an influx of God’s breath, God’s Spirit, God answers our prayers. Just as we do not see the wind, but only what it touches, we do not see the answer. It is in the waiting that we will find the answer. In sitting with the prayer, the question, we will hear the answer. It might be five minutes, five weeks, five months, or…

As we lifted the concerns of hearts, we then sat in silence. I held my prayers in the cupped palms of my hands, just sitting in the silence, sensing the flow of my breath. I became aware that God’s breath was flowing in me and through me, through every wave and in every particle of my being. For the moment, that is answer enough.

May my every breath become a prayer that is in concert with God’s Spirit.

Luke 11:13

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Look Up

A friend and her husband interviewed a physical trainer for his mother who has been recovering. His mother had begun doing less and less, and so was able to do less and less. She shuffled as she walked. The trainer had her do a simple thing—look up and ahead as she walked rather than down at her feet, and also swing her arms. The difference was amazing. Immediately, her stride lengthened and she was able to walk far more easily.

As my friend told me this, it reminded me of how much easier it is for me to stayed balanced when I am looking at something rather than down at my feet. It struck me how similar the latter is to when I become fearful and keep my focus down; my scope of vision is much smaller. I find my world narrowed, and my hope is lessened.

When I look up and ahead to where God is leading me, I can move much more easily than when I concentrate on my fear of stumbling. I am not limited to taking tiny, mincing steps. This is good for me to remember with so much transition happening in my life.

O God, in your grace may I open my eyes, my heart, my stance so that I will walk and dance with you in these days and the days to come.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

What Is Most Important?

Over the almost four months from when we started showing the house until we moved last Friday, I grew accustomed to making do with less stuff. On Friday, as I watched all the stuff that was already in storage be moved to a unit we will be able to access, I found myself feeling overwhelmed by it all. I know I need to sort through it and make reasoned decisions about what to do with it, and that this process will have to wait for a while. Until then I can make other decisions about the criteria I will use. What will be of most use? Do I want my memories to be represented by things? How can I best achieve true simplicity?

I remember reading a story about a woman who decided to keep only what she could carry in her pockets. At first, that meant her life was truly simple, but over time she began having more and more pockets in which to carry things, until her life was overtaken by the weight of the contents of her pockets.

If I were to pare my life down, what would be most important? And how would I keep check on the tendency to acquire stuff? I know that I need to have someone who helps me with accountability, who helps me see where my blind spots are, to help me weigh what is most important in my life.

Matthew 6:33-34

But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”