Musings: Notes From My Daybook

Whether it is Paul’s “pray without ceasing” or the preacher’s call to be prayerful person, sometimes prayer seems so out of date and out of touch with an active, energetic life. More importantly, sometimes our experience with prayer leaves us with the idea that prayer does not really produce any measurable difference in our lives. I can hear someone saying, ‘I prayed for my co-worker to be more pleasant and it didn’t happen!”

So for those who sometimes wonder about whether prayer is for real and whether it “works,” then the important thing to remember is this. Prayer is not merely telling God what we need; prayer is also preparing us for what we need to receive.

A casual prayer thrown to the heavens in the rush out the door may not be what Paul meant. Or, to go at this from another direction, perhaps prayer is not so much about the request. After all, God already knows our needs. Maybe it isn’t the request that needs attention. Maybe it is the inner workings of our own heart and life that real prayer is called on to change. Could it be possible that God is really waiting on us to get our act together on some things?
Listen to Harry Emerson Fosdick: “This, then is the rationale of importunity in prayer, not that it is needed to coax God, but that it is needed alike to express and by expressing to deepen our eager readiness for the good we seek. Some things God cannot give to a man until the man has prepared and proved his spirit by persistent prayer. Such praying cleans the house, cleanses the windows, hangs the curtains, sets the table, opens the door, until God says, ‘Lo! The house is ready. Now may the guest come in (The Meaning of Prayer).’”

At least at one level, prayer is not so much about getting God’s attention. We already have his attention by the presence of his Spirit. Prayer is really more about getting our attention.

Later this evening I have been asked to speak to our student group on prayer--particularly the way in which Scripture informs our prayers. So, to get the conversation going I plan to introduce the practice of lectio divina or divine reading. This ancient practice still finds broad practice today. In fact, in preparing for tonight's "practice" with our teens I ran across a book called Read, Think, Pray, Live (great english words to describe the fourfold movement of lectio divina!) by Tony Jones. Tony's book is directly focused on lectio divina for teens. How about that!

I'm excited about the conversation we will have. Northlake youth are a good group of kids who are hungry to be in the Word and to be in relationship with God. Yes, I realize the idea of reading and meditating doesn't sound all that hip and contemporary in a busy, media-saturated culture. However, that is why I think that the simplicity and power of allowing Scripture to ruminate and rest within us is so powerful.

Being still is becoming a luxury and meditating on the word is all too often seen as disconnected to life. Maybe we will look to another generation to rediscover the power of Scripture on our hearts!

I have really enjoyed the recent comments on homosexuality and on scripture. Add to that, conversations I've had today on authority in preaching and leadership in mission organizations and even the Braves 10-5 debacle this afternoon can't quite chill the effect of the day. The intersection of all of this, excepting baseball, rests in how we see Scripture. As Ken pointed out in a recent comment, how we begin with Scripture has a way of influencing where we will come out. More on that at another time. The day has been long and after speaking of Celtic spirituality this evening I would like to share an evening prayer:

I am lying down tonight as beseems
In the fellowship of Christ, Son of the Virgin golden,
In the fellowship of the gracious Father of glory,
In the fellowship of the Spirit of powerful aid.

I am lying down tonight with God,
And God tonight will lie down with me,
I will not lie down tonight with sin, nor shall
Sin or sin’s shadow lie down with me.

I am lying down tonight with the Holy Spirit,
And the Holy Spirit this night will lie down with me,
I will lie down this night with the Three of my love,
And the Three of my love will lie down with me.

God's peace to all tonight.
Carson

Where do we find God? In humanity's perennial search for the Creator, for the Mystery, for the Eternal its clear that the pursuit can often be a major expedition, like a friend who is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro this week. Major risks, big commitments, a lot to lose, and the gains are often imperceptible.

As we understand God as overtly Christian constructs, as Father, Redeemer, and Presence, some new possibilities emerge. As I continue reading in various books on prayer, I keep finding those who lived long ago addressing God's location.

"God is nearer to me than I am to myself; he is just as near to wood and stone, but they do not know it." --Meister Eckhart

"To mount to God is to enter into one's self. For he who inwardly entereth and intimately penetrateth into himself gets above and beyond himself and truly mounts up to God." Albert the Great.

Lest we begin to think that the key is to simply get in tune with one's self and develop some sort of selfism--which there is plenty of that around--Fosdick will remind us that the self is not answer, but the means.

Which is just another way of hinting at a dark reality. Sometimes, in all of our searching after God what we are really doing is running away from Him. If I'm busy learning yoga or teaching the children's Bible School class then I don't have to worry about what is going on in my heart. To be still and listen to God is more daunting than mounting an expedition!

Tonight I launch a study of prayer at Northlake. Hopeful and nervous, ill-prepared and excited, I've been re-editing a course schedule and preparing handouts all through the early morning. When I say ill-prepared I mean that everytime I have worked on the curriculum this summer I have this strong, unsettled feeling of how much there is for me to learn.

Which in turn brings hope. Each week throughout the fall I plan to introduce some aspect of prayer to a group of people who want to grow in their prayer life. Each week will also bring time for us to practice prayer--together. The plan is to create a laboratory of learning. Ideas and practice, chalk board and playing field, melding theory into praxis as a community. So though I am the facilitator I expect to be a learner as well.

Because, after all the books and after all the scriptures, there still remains the vital element of practice--the practice of prayer in the contexts of real life. There is a lot I still need to learn, but I've learned enough to know that prayer can not be studied in the academy and thereby hope to have mastered it. Prayer, like medicine, is practiced. And I'm excited about the practice of prayer in community.