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A Meditation for Summer
Another series of that fascinating television series “Springwatch” has just finished. Seldom has the hand of fortune been so graphically demonstrated as we have watched with jangling nerves to see if a particular fledgling or cub would survive the onslaught of predators, accident or simply the misfortune of being born too small not to be eaten by larger members of the brood. No matter what, we have seen extraordinary examples of survival, often with constant parental care and guidance.
150 years ago St James’s Church was completed. Our human life expectancy was 41 as a man or 45 if we were lucky enough to be born a female. Yet the achievements of that generation may also be considered to be extraordinary compared to what we seem to achieve today. Yes, they built the factories, often carrying the stone to the top of the hill to disperse the factory smoke more quickly, miles and miles of railways and canals, extraordinary machines, ships that explored and circled the globe. They developed trade, commerce and, yes, they continued the building of churches that had started some eight centuries beforehand. 140 years ago they even held the first Birstwith Show (see Mary Garside’s account on www.harrogate.co.uk/stjames/bhs/history.htm).
Now we in the UK are born into a world in which we each have hardly any risk of not surviving at birth and will live nearly twice as long. But it is not a perfect world. If you are born in Zimbabwe you will live on average 34 years as a woman and 37 as a man; in Zambia and Botswana perhaps 40 as a woman and 42 as a man. So do we just happen to be on planet earth by chance? No, we have to conclude that life is an exclusive privilege granted by an infinitely greater Power that we call God.
How to use that privilege? Will I act or will I just talk and fiddle? Will I help my neighbour or will I terrorise the neighbourhood in which I live? Will I be honest or a liar? Will I steal or will I give? Will I benefit the world (or - let’s be a little more modest - my neighbour) or will I be a scourge upon society? Can I put as much into my life as those wild creatures and as much as that generation of 150 years ago? In Britain we are primarily a Christian nation that has become multi-faith and multi-cultural only very, very recently. Does this really mean that we should let our roots become an antiquated historical blur?
We celebrate the church’s 150th anniversary because we value our Christian roots. It is right to do so. Let us each re-affirm our faith and may God help us to understand the huge responsibilities involved.
An extract from “We belong to the Land” by Elias Chacour.
“Well?”, the Responsible insisted. “Are you going to uproot this despicable vine tree? Or am I going to do it for you?”
“Would you bring me a bucket of water?” I asked the Responsible. While it was being fetched, I walked over to the lovely vine tree. What a shame to destroy the tree and the trust and friendship I enjoyed with Habib.
“Now you’re being sensible, Abuna” the Responsible said when I took the bucket. “The water will loosen the soil, and the tree will come out.”
I poured the water all over the vine tree, dousing its branches, leaves, and trunk. Then I made the sign of the cross with my right hand over the dripping plant and said, “Oh, vine tree, I baptize you Christian in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The one who uproots you will be uprooted. The one who waters you will be watered by God’s grace.”
I threw the bucket aside as I turned to speak to the startled Responsible. “My dear sir, uproot the tree now if you can. But you can’t. It will grow and become very, very big.”
I left the Responsible and his two friends staring at the newly baptized tree. I knew they would not dare touch it now. I also knew, however, that although the vine tree would grow and flourish, there was much to be done to allow the villagers the same opportunity.
Almighty God, who gave to your Apostles the power to sow Your seed throughout all the world:
We have reaped Your harvest of fruit, grain and all Your boundless gifts. On the hillside, in the valley, midst the e-mail and the fax, teach us to pray at the appointed time each day. Teach us to honour and worship You, meekly, humbly and reverently in your Holy Church that, fortified by Your strength and comfort, we may realise the courage to sow Your seed, to nurture it whatever the cost, to share where there is need and to endure all the adversities of this life, so that we may be blessed with the harvest of eternal life in Your Holy Kingdom.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer, Amen
Love Me as I Am
(Prayer from a Family Service)
Lord, where am I? Where is it happening?
What should I be doing? Keep me open to your call each day.
Give me eyes to see and ears to hear where I am.
Forgive me as I decide. Give me the right to be wrong.
Love me as I am. Forgive me so that I can keep the faith.
Lord, I need to take stands, so keep forgiving me for I keep sinning.
Give me courage to live in your forgiveness, Jesus.
How do I pray?
'Lord, teach us to pray'
That request was put to Jesus by his own disciples - which should encourage us if we feel we don't know how to pray. They needed help, and so do we, especially at troubled times such as these.
But there isn't just one right way to pray - what works well for one person may not for another. The following thoughts are offered just as guidelines which may be useful:
· When we pray we come before God with the world on our hearts. We are also offering ourselves to be in some small way channels of love and peace in God's world.
· God already knows what is in our hearts and minds. We can be honest with God, and say exactly how we feel, or even just sit in silence.
· It might help to find a quiet space. You may want to be on your own, but you may also find that it helps to join other people, who may be gathering to pray in local churches, but also in schools, workplaces and elsewhere.
· You may find that you can say just what you want to, using your own words. But many people find it helpful to use written prayers. This site provides a number of prayers for different people and situations as well as some simple forms of prayer for use at different times of the day.
Much of the prayer of the CofE is corporate, that is to say we do it together and this is reflected in much of what you will say when you recite Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer (see www.cofe.anglican.org/services/index.html) Yet there is another side to our prayer life, our own individual prayers.
Whether you are a child, young person or an adult, it's easier than you might imagine! Millions of people of every age pray every day.
You don't have to know any prayers if you want to pray - in fact, words can often get in the way. Say what is in your heart, what you feel.
Remember!
God hears every prayer - but not all prayers are answered in the way we might expect or desire!
'Arrow' Prayers can be offered to God anywhere, at any time.
But thankfully we don't live all our lives in moments of extreme crisis. What about day-to-day praying? We need to come closer to God, to experience His love for us and to try to make sense of where we are in the world. Prayer is the way we do this.
How to start?
Use your hand.
Your fingers can be used to bring to mind different things to pray for.
· thumb - this is the strongest digit on your hand. Give thanks for all the strong things in your life, like home and family, relationships that support and sustain you.
· index finger - this is the pointing finger. Pray for all those people and things in your life who guide and help you. Friends, teachers, doctors, nurses, emergency services and so on.
· middle finger - this is the tallest finger. Pray for all the important people who have power in the world, like world leaders and their governments, members of parliament and local councillors, the Royal Family, other world leaders and their governments.
· ring finger - this is the weakest finger on your hand. It can not do much by itself. Remember the poor, the weak, the helpless, the hungry, the sick, the ill and the bereaved.
· little finger - this is the smallest and the last finger on your hand. Pray for yourself.
When should I pray?
Traditionally, prayer times have been morning and evening, but you can choose a time which is best for you. It helps to be somewhere quiet, where you can have some time for yourself.
Do I have to kneel?
Kneeling is the traditional praying posture, but you don't have to. Prayer can happen anywhere - walking, standing, sitting, whatever feels comfortable.
What else do I need to know?
Be creative - use music, a stone, a feather, a flower, or a candle to help you focus - if you are little, or elderly, be careful with candles!
Prayer activity is a discipline - it can be difficult at times, just like keeping fit, being on a diet, or keeping weeds down in the garden! Little and often is best, but don't give up! No prayer, however inadequate you may feel it to be, is ever wasted or of no value.
What next?
Build up a collection of favourite prayers and sayings - anything that speaks to you. You can find them in greeting cards, cuttings in the press or bookmarks and prayer cards. You could make a scrapbook for them.