Trinity Episcopal Church

May 30, 2010

Fr. Rick’s Reflection

What I find easy about prayer is in the idea that God is always with us. And since God is always there, it’s naturally easy to want to include God in all we do and wherever we go. This is what Jesus did as he walked our earth, he included God in his decisions, choices, and desires. I think that’s what Jesus meant when he said in his prayer in our gospel today about we being in God and God being in us …. To be Spirit filled is to know God is always with you and the practice of including God in all you do. Perhaps this is the best type of prayer: the daily inclusion of God in your life.

It was St John Cassian, one of the 5th c. Desert Fathers, who wrote, “We pray best when we are no longer aware of praying.” Conversation is prayer. Just think of the story of the Samaritan woman and Jesus at the well talking about water and mountains and people and personal stuff (John chapter 4). That was a prayer! A person speaking to God as a Person. You and God in an ordinary day doing ordinary things. So, when someone asks, “How’s your prayer life?” to the Christian, it is the same as “How’s your life?” There is no separation.

Phillip Yancey in his book Prayer recommends we find “what we most enjoy and do that, only do it for the glory of God.” For me, I like to play guitar and write and hike; for you it may be bicycling or bird watching or gardening or camping or painting or whatever (I doubt it‘s vacuuming but that would work too). As you are doing what you enjoy most, “ask God to remind you, as you do it, that you’re doing it for him”, before you know it, your prayer life will be your life.

Fr. Rick

Trinity Episcopal Church

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May 30, 2010