Prayer
as a Path to Love
by
Robbin Brent
The
quote from Thomas Merton reminds me of Dorothy’s journey in The Wizard of Oz.
With the ruby slippers, she could have clicked her heels together three times
at any point and been home. But not knowing this, she embarks on a dramatic
journey filled with danger, fear, beauty, darkness, friendship, and hard-won
wisdom. At the end, she and her friends learn that what they most longed for,
what they thought they lacked that only the wizard could provide, they already
possessed. Merton is saying something similar about using the “ruby slippers”
of our prayers to help us remember and return to the abundance we already have,
but may have forgotten.
Let’s return to the intercessory prayer questions
introduced in week two as one form of prayer that can help us to more fully
join our prayer with God’s prayer for us. From this place we can deepen the
connections we already have, and offer prayers for mercy, compassion, and love,
for ourselves and on behalf of those whom we love, and for those with whom we
are in community.
• Beloved of my heart, what is your prayer, your deepest
desire for me/ this person/this situation?
• What do you want my prayer to be for myself/this
person/situation?
• What, if anything, is getting in my way of joining more
fully and freely in your prayer?
• Is there
anything you would have me say or do on your behalf?
Making
It Personal:
If you practiced
this way of praying, did you receive any insights or guidance?
If you prayed on behalf of another person or group, did
that change your thoughts or feelings about them in any way?
You might want to write down your responses, or share
them in a conversation with a trusted friend or family member.
Living
Well Through Lent 2021
Copyright
©2021 Scott Stoner.
All
rights reserved.
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