Tower and Town, September 2019 (view the full edition)Clergy LetterPrayer is about connecting. Like plugging in an electrical appliance or logging on to the internet, it won't work unless we enable the connection to be made. Prayer is a way of connecting to God, enabling us to communicate - to listen and to speak. A good conversation is wonderful. In order for a good conversation to flow, the people in conversation need mutual respect, honesty, self-reflection, and humility to genuinely listen and hear what the other is saying. We should not be afraid of engaging with God our creator in conversation and welcoming the presence of God's Holy Spirit into our lives. Jesus encourages us to speak freely with God and give voice to our longings. It's also good to make time for stillness and reflection each day, otherwise God cannot fit into our busy lives. Being connected to God, developing our relationship with God is a central part of what living as a person of faith is about. It is not an optional extra for particularly "prayerful" people or something that is only done in church. Prayer is for everybody, and can take place every day and everywhere. Prayer can at times be difficult, but even at difficult times it helps if we try to make more of a habit of daily prayer and develop our spiritual dimension. Jesus teaches us to be persistent - until prayer becomes a daily ongoing conversation with God. We could converse with God when waking up in the morning, when considering our state of health and the well-being of family and friends. Thanking God for blessings is important too. Whenever we pray, we can know for sure that God, our Father, our creator and our friend, will be listening, and ready to talk with us. John Blacker |