Sharing some thoughts

  A little boy was asked one day if he said prayers before his meals. He replied, “I don’t have to—my mum’s a good cook!” It’s a great and rather innocent reply, but it points to something much deeper: that is how easily we associate prayer only with need.   We sometimes treat prayer as merely the spiritual equivalent of seasoning—sprinkled over life in moments of desperation. But the truth is, prayer is not an emergency button or a decorative ritual—it is actually the very language of relationship with God. For many of us, prayer comes naturally when we’re in a crisis: in illness, in grief, in anxiety. But what about on ordinary days? What about in the mundane, or in the joyful, in the hopeful? It then doesn’t seem to flow so naturally. But, what if prayer wasn’t just a reaction, but a rhythm of life? Rowan Williams beautifully wrote, “The Lord’s Prayer is completely fresh. It never gets stale because what it’s talking about is the human condition in the presence of God.” ...

  Paul, writing to the Colossians (1:1–12) in our New Testament reading, prayed that they would be made strong—not through their own willpower, but through the strength that flows from God’s presence. He prayed that they’d be able to endure life with patience and joy, always thankful to God.. Maybe as Paul wrote, his thoughts might have turned towards the teaching of Jesus—perhaps even the parable of the Good Samaritan which we heard (Luke 10:25-37). Paul understood suffering; he had experienced it, and, before his conversion, had even caused it. But Jesus’ story of this Samaritan stranger who stops to help, teaches us not only about kindness but about the depth of love God calls us to share—not just for Him, but for each other. In a world where kindness can sometimes seem to come with conditions, we can reflect on how true compassion often comes at a cost. There’s a challenge about whether we sometimes help others for convenience, or for recognition, rather than out of true compas...

  The author, Eugene Brice, in one of his books ( Books That Bring Life  (Net Press, 1987)), tells of a controversy that took up a lot of time in the United States Senate many years ago. It was around whether or not to allow the newly elected senator from Utah, a man called Reed Smoot, to take his seat. At that time, the Mormon church (to which Smoot belonged) still allowed the practice of polygamy. And although Smoot had only one wife, some of the more difficult members of the Senate argued that he should not be allowed to take his seat, given the beliefs of his church. But the issue was settled when another Senator came forward and looked directly at some of his colleagues who, though married, were known to "womanise" quite a bit. He stated strongly, "I would prefer to have seated beside me in the Senate a polygamist who doesn’t polyg than a monogamist who doesn’t monog."  Beyond the humour it’s a sharp and perhaps uncomfortable statement because it reminds u...