Good afternoon, friends! It has seemed so long since I’ve done a One Call and I apologize for having been unable to make time to be in touch with you like this for so long. This summer is seemingly turning out to be a series of so many family obligations after the long pandemic. So, I may miss our weekly chats occasionally.
Sunday, I talked about prayer and had a thoughtful interview with Nancy Smith and Allison DeHart in the morning service about some of the styles and benefits of prayer. Today, I ran across a quote from Richard Foster who has written extensively about the spiritual life. He said: “Real prayer comes not from gritting our teeth, but from falling in love.” And it is true. We “grit our teeth” trying to pray right when the heart of prayer is about just being in God’s presence with all of our joys, concerns, and fears – just resting in God’s presence with a calmness and wordless trust. Our fears and requests are already known by God. What is important today is just BEING. Can you forgo the ASKING, the HURRY, and the WORRY for a few moments of simply “practicing the presence” as Brother Lawrence invited us to do? Try it!
Let me leave you with an invitation. We would love to see you in church this Sunday at 9:30, if you are nearby. Beloved Community takes on an added warmth when we are actually in one another’s presence. If you are vaccinated, masks are no longer needed. We just miss you when you are gone and it’s been so long since we’ve seen some of your faces. Please know you are loved.
LET’S PRAY: God who draws us into community and who watches over us like a loving parent, we are grateful. Amen
