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Praying for peace~

7/29/2012

Lately I’ve been praying for people I don’t know and for situations over which I have NO control. I try to stay away from judgments about what these folks ‘should’ do or what ‘should’ happen, but of course the fewer details I have, the easier it is. My heart is the best sign that God is pleased.

Speaking of prayer, what about the Olympics? Peace throughout, no violence, no guns is definitely worth praying for. But that’s a given, this praying for non-violence. Thou shall not kill. But as far as praying for the U.S. well, it just isn’t what I’m called to do. Our country will win a fair amount of medals. Iv we didn’t, what would that mean? What kind of energy shift would that create in the world?

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Praying for gun control~

7/26/2012

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Orchard House, Concord, MA

I really want to write about the field trip my granddaughter and I took today to Orchard House, the home of Louisa May Alcott and her ‘little women’. However, gun control, or rather the lack thereof, is on my mind. You know who I’m thinking about—all those innocent people killed in the Colorado movie theater and all their families and friends. But that’s not all. There’s all of us, citizens of the USA and of the world who hold some the responsibility as well as some of the hope. (I can’t believe that politicians are remaining mute or are only murmuring, so no one will hear them, that our gun laws are adequate.)

     What’s a Christian to do? Or a Jew or Muslim, or a Buddhist, or just a good person? We’re all the same in this. The Ten Commandments tell us not murder, and most of us are able to follow that one. And I think we’d find general agreement that no one should stand up in a movie theater and fire away. But in not speaking up, are we allowing others to kill?

   What’s a Christian to do? What am I to do? I have some suggestions for God in spite of the fact that praying for specifics is tricky business (not that it stops me). Praying for peace seems like a safe bet, and although recognizing peace isn’t always easy, I think I know it when I see it.

     So, at the moment I’m praying that everyday people like myself can’t get a hold of a gun, and I’m praying that our elected officials will speak out against the easy access to guns in this country. I’m calling God’s attention to the issue. “Look God, see what’s happening.”

      I would love to hear the conversation around the Alcott dining room table about gun control and the right to bear arms. Bronson Alcott wouldn’t shy away from the issue, but we can be pretty sure that he wouldn’t accept the reckless access and use that we have today.

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Forgiving our trespasses~

7/24/2012

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“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” You know that one; we say it all the time and I admit that it’s quite the norm for me to repeat the words without thinking about them at all. Like The Jesus Prayer they go right to my subconscious, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The repetition sink in, which is all for the good.

     Good also happens when we consciously ponder the words, which I did this morning. It occurred to me that as far as forgiving others their trespasses, that not a big issue for me. I don’t hold many grudges; I usually don’t feel attacked by what others do; I don’t take much personally. It just isn’t where my energy needs to go.

     Instead, my forgiving focuses on forgiving myself. Perhaps that’s where vanity comes in, taking the sinful form of wanting to be perfect. If I could treat myself like I treat others, if I could forgive myself as easily as I forgive others, God’s will would “be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

      The little boy with terminal cancer is now with God. He is no longer suffering. Please pray for his family.

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Simple prayer

7/22/2012

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Sometimes I have piles of chatter going on in my head about prayer, but today my mind is pretty still about it. It’s not that prayer isn’t there, but that it’s pretty simple. Behind all my conversation with God is that deep, steady place where I just pray that God will bring peace and grace to the people I’m praying for.

For example, I’ve been praying for a little boy who has terminal brain cancer. His four year old life will be ending soon. I pray for his pain to be over and for grace to embrace him, his parents, family and friends. Again, it’s that simple prayer for the peace of God that passes all understanding.

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Secret prayer~

7/19/2012

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Praying for people can be a complicated call. Some don’t want to be prayed for at all, and are very emphatic about it. Once I told someone I’d pray for her, only to be lashed out at: Don’t you dare; I don’t need any prayers!

This person wanted no part of God, but what was the fear? That there might be something to this prayer business? That to even entertain the possibility would turn upside down the paradigm from which she lived her life. I don’t think she would have responded positively even if I had posed the question; Would you like me to pray for you?

I still pray for this friend but no one knows except God and me. I pray for peace for her, whatever that might mean. In fact, I pray for many people who don’t seem to view life through a God lens. As a prayer person I do my best to respond gingerly, thoughtfully, and prayerfully, remembering that it is always about God, not about what I say or don’t say. Of course, not always easy; judgments seep in, but I pray about that, too.

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Miracles happen~

7/17/2012

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Here’s a prayer story. Who knows how it all works. Sit in the mystery and believe in miracles. That’s what I did with this one.

      Recently a friend told me about a bleeding ulcer on his leg that had been a problem for six months. It wasn’t healing; no new skin was forming and thus he lived in fear that at some inopportune time the bleeding would begin again—and it did, several times.

    One evening at dinner he was telling a friend about his problem. An acquaintance at a nearby table heard his story, and upon leaving the dining room stopped by his table and said, “I will pray for you.”

     The next morning when the visiting nurse came to change the dressing she startled my friend by exclaiming, “Oh my goodness, I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve never seen such a marked change in such a short time. Look at all the new pink skin that is finally forming. Healing has begun. It’s a miracle.”

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Finding a church community~

7/15/2012

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I feel so blessed to part of a church community. A variety of God’s children attend; young, old, in-between; women, men, families; gays and straights—all God’s children, all on the journey. I wish we had more than one person of color, but unfortunately I live in a rather white suburb.

      My mom used to attend an inner city UCC church in DC when visiting my sister. “I think this is what Heaven looks like,” she would always tell us. “All the races, colors cultures and classes worshipping together.”

       As usual, this morning I set out for church with my own set of concerns. Fair enough. But of course everyone came with theirs as well, and with their own prayer requests, some of which they offered up during Joys and Concerns. Today there was an abundance of sadnesses that we all took in and held for each other.

     I love my church, but it’s not the only great one around. I know that many you could rave about yours, as well. If you don’t have a church, “shop around” as the expression goes. You’ll know when you find the right one for you.

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Early morning walk--seeing through a God lens.

7/14/2012

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Early morning walk. Well, somewhat early. I set out at 7:30, passing a few walkers and one jogger along the way. There is something about the morning that encouraged me to walk a longer route-- I could have kept going all over town. No guilt about starting the day doing ‘nothing’. Yes, I was exercising, but mainly I was talking and listening to God. My talk went something like this,

       “Well, God, what do you want me to do? You know that I don’t want to do a lot, that I want to sit in the silence with you, that I want to lead a simple life, that I want to pray for people, and that I need solitude for that.”
       “That’s what I want you to do. Does that answer your question?”
      “Yes. Help me surrender. I feel so many obstacles.”

    That was all I could hear but it is enough to ponder. I have some thought that I need to live from my heart more than from my head, that I have to keep looking through a God lens.

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Morning protection~

7/11/2012

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Here a follow-up to my last blog. This prayer, also in The Divine Hours; A Manual for Prayer, compiled by Phyllis Tickle, is repeated every morning throughout the year. It may be attributed to St. Augustine but I’m not certain. Regardless it is a very comforting prayer for protection at the start of each day.

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day. Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen

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The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime~

7/9/2012

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I start my morning prayer ritual reading from The Divine Hours; A Manual for Prayer, compiled by Phyllis Tickle. (There is also an online version http://www.explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/hours.php) Tickle is an Episcopalian so it is not surprising that the liturgy that she has put together has the feel of The Book of Common Prayer. I like the formality and routine as I wake up and start my day, although I must admit that sometimes my reading is more rote than thoughtful. However, when I do become intentional about the words, I’m in awe of their power. This morning I was struck by ‘The Prayer Appointed for the Week’.

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your servant who calls upon you, and grant that I may know and understand what things I ought to do, and that I also may have the grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

As a start, what if I could remember to try to have the grace and power to faithfully accomplish what God wants me to do?

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