Othona Community
"In the power of the Spirit we make ourselves available” (Norman Motley).
Maybe that’s the ultimate prayer, just making ourselves available to God, which reminds me of Isaiah, “Here I am Lord, send me” (6.8). A sense of letting go, a confidence in whatever happens. I know that’s the way to pray, but I also know that it is the kind of abandonment that doesn’t happen without all sorts of on-going human discussion and bargaining with God.
For example, recently in the news I read about a big prayer meeting called to pray for the “right” weather. As you know from my previous blogs, I don’t believe in that kind of prayer, but I grapple with the idea. And, am I the only one who dares confess to finding myself praying for a parking space? At the moment. I am praying for a miracle, a cancer cure for a friend, and I feel just fine about that.
Getting involved in God’s business is a very human affair, which I’m thinking has got to be a necessary part of the prayer process. if I want to arrive at that place of surrender, of open, exposed availability, I have to do my human part. I find that after I pray for my particulars, I am more apt to end by saying, “ Well, there it is God. I’m available for whatever the power of the Spirit offers.”
In my interest to learn about Norman Motely, I came the the Othona Community. From it’s website: http://www.othona.org/
“The Othona Community had its origin in the work of Norman Motley as an RAF chaplain in the Second World War. He started what became known as the 'Nails Movement', which offered people a chance to debate issues arising from their wartime experience.”
Maybe that’s the ultimate prayer, just making ourselves available to God, which reminds me of Isaiah, “Here I am Lord, send me” (6.8). A sense of letting go, a confidence in whatever happens. I know that’s the way to pray, but I also know that it is the kind of abandonment that doesn’t happen without all sorts of on-going human discussion and bargaining with God.
For example, recently in the news I read about a big prayer meeting called to pray for the “right” weather. As you know from my previous blogs, I don’t believe in that kind of prayer, but I grapple with the idea. And, am I the only one who dares confess to finding myself praying for a parking space? At the moment. I am praying for a miracle, a cancer cure for a friend, and I feel just fine about that.
Getting involved in God’s business is a very human affair, which I’m thinking has got to be a necessary part of the prayer process. if I want to arrive at that place of surrender, of open, exposed availability, I have to do my human part. I find that after I pray for my particulars, I am more apt to end by saying, “ Well, there it is God. I’m available for whatever the power of the Spirit offers.”
In my interest to learn about Norman Motely, I came the the Othona Community. From it’s website: http://www.othona.org/
“The Othona Community had its origin in the work of Norman Motley as an RAF chaplain in the Second World War. He started what became known as the 'Nails Movement', which offered people a chance to debate issues arising from their wartime experience.”
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