This morning I went to the most quiet prayer church I know in Florence. Badia is not noted as one of the museum churches of Florence (although it has a long history and is one of the current of the Monastic Communities of Jerusalem)and therefore is particularly void of noise and people. In fact it is the most silent place in the city. My point, however, isn’t about silence, but that I continued the morning prayer time that I have at home; the time frame changed but not the spirit. Today a 9AM cappucchino at the local bar on my way to Badia replaced coffee at home in the Angel Room at 6.
I made it with ease to Florence. Easy travel, easy getting settled into my apartment at 10:30 in the morning, easy city that I know and love so well, easy cappuccino, and easy slipping into my favorite churches for prayer. When I travel, when I have to shift from being out there in the world to being present to God in a new place and new routine, I am aware of how important a consistent prayer habit is. This morning I went to the most quiet prayer church I know in Florence. Badia is not noted as one of the museum churches of Florence (although it has a long history and is one of the current of the Monastic Communities of Jerusalem)and therefore is particularly void of noise and people. In fact it is the most silent place in the city. My point, however, isn’t about silence, but that I continued the morning prayer time that I have at home; the time frame changed but not the spirit. Today a 9AM cappucchino at the local bar on my way to Badia replaced coffee at home in the Angel Room at 6.
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Sometimes I wonder if God’s call to intercessory prayer is some kind of hoax that I’ve made up for myself. Faith tells me that yes, I am called to pray for people, and that I’d better take it seriously. If nothing else, the alternatives are terrible—live in despair and cynicism, for starts, or still worse, give up. This was confirmed for me the other evening in the local movie theater as we sat though a half hour of violent previews before the feature film, “The Big Short” (which had no physical violence) came on. I was personally sadden and shaken by these previews, but beyond that, my faith was shaken. Why believe in God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven? Or how can I? Violence begets violence, and our world is permeated with it. As Christians, however, we are blessed to return to scripture for help. One of the benefits of reading the Bible regularly is that we can call upon scripture to help us work through difficulties. In this case I was reminded of Abraham bargaining with God in Genesis 18:16-33 to save even a few people of Sodom. Even for the sake of ten, God agrees not to destroy the city. Then he (Abraham) said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.” When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home (Gen. 18:32-33). Thank God for the Bible. Thank God I can bargain/argue/talk with God. Than God I never entirely give up on God, whose power and righteousness is more than we can ever hope or imagine. ....but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil (1 Thess. 5:22-23). This first post of 2016 seems to have a New Year’s resolution flavor. Again, I’m trying to be perfect. I know that’s silly, but we keep trying. I was brought up not only to try do my best, but that I could and should. Fortunately, however, I was also raised knowing how very human I was, not just me, but everyone. I need to remember this, for I can be hard on myself, comparing what I think, say and do with the ‘perfect’ people I know, who then become my models. Yes, they are worthy role-models, but what about Jesus? Jesus tells us, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect” Matt. 5:48--in summary, love everyone as God loves everyone. Not easy nor possible, but we have to keep trying. The Gospels tell us that even Jesus had to learn this in very human ways. At times he was angry and judgmental, and then he went off alone to pray. I wonder what that prayer time was like? Probably similar to ours—thanksgiving, gratitude, confession, intercession, ranting, raving, pleading…. Jesus knew the Psalms, with their joys, angst. So when I get hard on myself, I talk honestly with Jesus. He’s been there. He gets it. |
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