FRIDAY, April 29 Friday in Easter Week

Psalm 116:1-8. I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.

I had been in the county jail for about a week, long enough for the magnitude of the trouble I was in to begin to sink in. (The sad part of this is it took years for me to move past my trouble and begin to see what I’d done to others.) It started when a preacher came to see me. He convinced me that God was there to do my bidding; all I had to do was pray a certain way and believe.

That was simplistic, and of course it didn’t work. It was years before I directed my voice Godward. Today a life that was the epitome of selfishness and fear has changed; some days a little, some a lot.

Three things stand out:

(1) Self-centered prayers meant to skirt the consequences of my actions are more lies than prayers.

(2) Just because I wasn’t talking to God doesn’t mean God wasn’t hearing my voice and the things of my heart.

(3) Open-ended prayers, where I’m willing to accept help but not dictate it, are life-changing.

PRAY for the Diocese of Nevada (Province VIII, USA)

Ps 116:1-8 or 118:19-24; Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14

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Apr 29, 2011 at 12:44 am

Written by Paulletta Garoutte-Aldridge,

Henri Nouwen encouraged everyone to pray with open hands...making ourselves completely open to God and accepting whatever He placed there.. This is not any easy task because it means giving up all control... I try to spend time just being in the presence of God...no agenda, just embracing the quiet and allowing God's silence to embrace my spirit. it has been and continues to be life changing because I finally realized that He already knows everything and loves me anyway and mostly my words are not necessary because He hears my heart.

...

Apr 29, 2011 at 2:48 am

Written by Nancy from Arizona,

I have often prayed to God and Jesus for my children, my husband and my extended family. I like what Bo has written and Pauletta has written. It reminds me of the way I pray in general anyhow. I don't like to ask God for particular outcomes. I've always felt that he new what is best for me and my loved ones. Although, more selfishly, I did pray that he would spare my parents from death in 1996 when they both died from cancer within 12 days of one another. That was hard on me, my family and my extended family, but the good news then was that we only had to go through the grieving process once for our parents, in-laws, grandparents, and whatever other role they played in people's lives. Hope this makes sense. And thanks for the meditation.

amen.

Apr 29, 2011 at 6:55 am

Written by Bonnie,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5,6.

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Apr 29, 2011 at 8:49 am

Written by Ann Delea,

A very profound observation. Some of the strongest, wisest and most honest Christians are in the recovery community.

Three Person God

Apr 29, 2011 at 10:30 am

Written by Norm,

I have noticed before and have noticed to some extent in the above meditation and comments that there can be a dichotomy in belief about how we address God in prayer. Some will say that we should approach God in the same manner as approaching a friend while others will say no we should approach God in an attitude of worship because we are approaching a diety. This division does not need to exist for us for there are times when we can speak to God as a friend by addressing Jesus and takling about the needs and concerns we may have. At other times we can address GOD (the I AM) as we approach in worship. This is the wonder of the three person we acknowledge in various ways; and the wonder continues because we can have the silent companionship of the Holy Spirit walking with us as we journey through life.

Amen. And thank you.

Apr 29, 2011 at 12:49 pm

Written by Julie Murdoch,

The life-changing part is especially true, Mr. Cox. And may I say a very belated thank you? I read your 1998 meditations just as I was discerning my vocation. Despite our very different backgrounds, your words spoke to me as few others did. In part because of those words, I found the strength to upend my life (and my family's, to some degree), leave a well-paying legal career I loved, and become a parish priest. I feel blessed every day as I serve my parish, and I think of and thank you often. May God continue to grant you the courage to share your very special insights. I wish you the very best in life.

Powerful Comments

Apr 29, 2011 at 1:47 pm

Written by Bo Cox,

Wow, thanks for all the comments, especially the ones with personal examples/illustrations. (No surprise I'd like those, I suppose.) I'm (obviously) not a fan of Biblical inerrancy and believe your stories are illustrations of an ongoing, fluid, transforming and transformative narrative describing our experience of what Tillich (I believe) called The Ground of Being. Hopefully, I'll come to embrace the negative/critical comments as well as the appreciative ones. This moment, I'm very fond of the appreciative ones. Peace...

The Ground of Being

Apr 30, 2011 at 12:02 am

Written by Lynn,

Yes, Bo, it was Tillich!

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