Prayer Diary

Generosity, a fruit of the spirit

9/8/2021

Generosity, a fruit of the spirit. We sometimes consider being generous in terms of helping out with our time and talents, or giving money. Often these act of giving imply being generous in large amounts.
As Christians we know that our essence is to be generous, so that is where we begin—from the heart. On our best day, we begin by praying for people. From there we offer one of our most generous gifts, the gift of compassion, of listening, of accompanying someone when they need a steady friend. And yes, very likely we will be generous by doing little things and big things, and perhaps giving money.
But this isn’t just about us being generous. When we realize that we also need this generosity, when we become aware that we may be on someone else’s list as someone in need of prayer and compassion, then generosity becomes an act of giving and receiving— from a humble heart.

Pray for your enemies

9/2/2021

How can I pray for my enemies when I am so angry at them? I can’t, not when I feed my anger—specifically by listening to the news, not just listening but wallowing in it.
I’ve written about this before and unfortunately I will probably have to do so again. These obsessions/addictions don’t go away easily. I’d like to believe that I can deal with them once and for all, and that’s it. Done! But no, it doesn’t work that way. So I write again, sharing in public, admitting my vulnerability. That’s what I need to do because, yes, I do want to pray for my enemies.
This blog has become a form of confession--tell God and one other person. You, the reader, is that collective person. You help me shed what gets in the way. Not all at once, but small piece at a time. So once again, I am turning off the news, acting on my belief that yes, praying for my enemies does make a difference not only to me, not only to them, but at least in this case, to the world.

Intercessory prayer

8/30/2021

For thirty or so years I have known that God has called me to pray for people. I’ve always resonated with that phrase pray for people, rather than to be an intercessor, which sounds hierarchical, elitist, and privileged. Well, it isn’t. Is myriad ways and with myriad words, Jesus called us to join him to be prayer people and intercessors. So, I am letting go paying attention to terms. What is important is that God prays and God’s call us to pray.
Intercessory prayer can be a lonely task if I let it be. And yet, it only happens with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in community with me and the person I’m praying for.
The Holy Spirit is always present. When I pray for someone I picture them walking with me and then Jesus comes and the three of us walk together and then the two of them walk off and I stay by myself with God. As they go with Jesus I feel released from worry and fear I might have about them. When my worries and fears return, I pray them back with Jesus.
On a good day I know that I am answering God’s call and that God is answering my prayer. Some days, and some prayer times, it is all about me and I forget God. God knows all about that; thankfully God keeps me tethered.

Know, love, serve God

8/27/2021

Know, love, serve God. There it is. Four words to remember. They say it all.
I’ve heard various forms of this for years, but when Brother David (SSJE) said them during an in-line talk recently, I heard them for the first time. A mantra! I’m used to saying the Jesus Prayer, Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me, as I go about my day but this one has a more positive and proactive resonance. For a while I’m going to practice this new one to help keep me focused less on myself and more I what I can do out in the world.
Yes, I can remember four words as I go about my day. Not complicated to say to follow a uncomplicated path from my head to my heart.

Prayer and Service

8/3/2021

The Society of Saint John the Evangelist in Cambridge, MA will be closed for the month of August. The brothers do this every year so they can have some personal retreat time, visit family, and gather together to make plans for the coming year. Because of their new/pandemic initiated ministry of live-streaming their services, they especially need the time to regroup individually and collectively and to step out of the limelight.
I will miss attending the in-person Sunday services and social hour in the cloister that follows, which began in June. Chatting with the brothers has opened up examples of ways we lay people can create a monastic life for ourselves. These monks are not ‘cloistered’; they live a social life out in the world. They are called to prayer and service.
The call to prayer and service! Isn’t that what all God’s children are called to do? I believe yes; I certainly can’t offer any reason to refute it. One of my challenges is to remember the call to prayer and service in the midst of all the ego stuff I want to accomplish. The brothers are the first to admit that ego stuff gets in their way all the time, and that they have each other to call them to account. That’s no excuse for me—if I only lived in a religious community I’d be without all those living problems! We learn in whatever community we live in. My family, friends and church community is a wonderful place to learn it all.

Prayer: the grace of Christ working thru me

7/27/2021

Prayer is the Grace of Christ working thru me. I wrote that down recently but can’t recall where I saw it. Those six words, however, resonated deeply with me. Prayer is such as mysterious idea, with no worthy definition. Sometimes we can claim some proof that prayers were answered, but not as any scientific fact. We know and have come to believe--a message given throughout the Gospel of John and many of the epistles.
I know and have come to believe that God has called me to pray for people—the official phrase is intercessory prayer, but I like the more folksy ‘pray for people (and situations).’ But what does this mean? What am I doing? The best I can say right now, today, at this moment, is that I say a name, and feel/picture the grace of Christ working through/around that person. Having that little visual helps me know and believe that Christ is working for the good, and that I have some little, mysterious roll in it. And, I find myself letting go of any power or control I think I might have over it.

July 21st, 2021

7/21/2021

Father of our souls and of all souls on earth, into the light of Thy compassion we bring the President of our country and the leaders of all other lands. As they make decisions that may prove fateful for the human race, may their eyes be opened to the need of those who cry across the world for bread and life. Allan A. Hunter (1893-1982).

This prayer from a devotional that my mother gave me, one she read every day. It is comforting each morning to continue some of the same habits she had throughout her life. I recall when we traveled together she would quietly unpack her Bible and other readings, this one included, and always find time to spend time God each morning.

These particular words by Allan Hunter remind me that some things don’t change. Presidents, our country, and leaders of other lands will always need prayers, prayers for those who cry out for bread and life. It feels like a big prayer, but then, if everyone in the world did their bit to pray it, the prayer would be answered. I believe that. I also believe that my mom’s prayers are still being sent and answered. It doesn’t make any sense to me that her prayers have stopped or that the ones she prayed during her 101 years have no more voice in the world.

Lessons from Compline

6/27/2021

Several evenings during the week the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (www.SSJE.org) live-streams its Compline service. Always included is a short biographical reading about one of the deceased brothers of the society. During these five minute vignettes, a history of the SSJE comes into fullness.
This Anglican society was started by Father Richard Meux Benson (1824-1915) in Oxford England. For a time there were chapters throughout the world; brothers would leave they home country to live and serve in India and South Africa, and other places. Today the Society of North American Congregation resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Through these stories, besides learning about the society, I am hearing about personal callings and how individuals lived out their vocations. The other evening the story was about a brother called to be an intercessor: as an intercessor, he mentioned everyone by name. As someone who continues to be surprised that God has called me to pray for people, this was an extremely powerful comment. It’s what I try to do; lift up individuals by name.
It is one thing to pray for categories of people—those working for democracy, or the environment, or Covid cure, or teachers, or gun safety. But ‘all the people on my prayer list’ doesn’t feel like a stand alone category. They are individuals; each has name; I know them.

Asking Jesus

6/9/2021

My morning routine, at least most mornings, includes Bible reading; the Psalms, Old Testament, the Epistles, and the Gospels.
Usually we read about Jesus asking someone if she/he wants to be healed, So, today I was startled to notice in Luke 5:12-13 that it was the leaper asking Jesus if he chose to heal him: Once, when he was in one of the cities there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you choose, you can me me clean.” Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do choose. Be made clear.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
Think of something you need help with right now, some healing in your life—a situation, a physical problem, yours or someone you know. I’m sure something comes to mind. Ask Jesus if he can help you, if he chooses to do so.
Can you listen to his response. Can you let him help you? How
does it feel to ask?
If it was hard, or even impossible to ask Jesus or to listen to him, don’t worry. He has heard heard you anyway. He has chosen.

More prayer questions

5/18/2021

I have been praying with Br. Keith Nelson’s (SSJE) April 24, 2016 sermon, “Marks of Love (Where Nails Have Been): Reflecting on the Third Mark of Mission. Br. Keith quotes the SSJE Rule of Life: Our intercession does not call down the divine presence to come to the place where we have seen a need, for Christ who fills all thing is already in that place. It is his Spirit who calls us to join him there by offering our love in intercessory prayer and action, to be used by God for healing and transformation.
As I’ve mentioned previously, intercession is at the core of my Christian practice because I know and have come to believe that God has called me to be an intercessor, or to use a more colloquial phrase, ‘to pray for people.’
Here are a few of the questions that Br. Keith’s message brought up to me: 1) If Jesus is already in the place of need, then for who or what am I praying for? 2) What place does my prayer play other than making me feel good? 3) Does this mean that through prayer we become co-creators with God? It’s about control. Mine? God’s? God and me healing and transforming together?