LAKE JAMES

NORTH CAROLINA

July 1, 2007 + Saint Paul’s Church + Lake James, NC

+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes, when life or pressures begin to feel like a wet heavy blanket, I am apt to turn to a charming little book of young children’s letters to God and, this morning, I’d like to share a few of their simplistic but thought-provoking messages with you.

One boy wrote: “Dear God, if you will make it so that I can be invisible when I want to, I’ll do all the things you want. Is it a deal? Signed, Your Friend, Gordon.” Another boy had a different kind of request. He wrote: “Dear God, my name is Robert. I want a baby brother. My mother said to ask my father. My father said to ask you. Do you think you can do it? Good luck! Robert.”

In the same book, others reflect dissatisfaction with the process of prayer. One wrote: “Dear God, I don’t think you were listening when I asked you to make me a better football player, so I am sending this by mail so you can read it when you have the time. I am also sending you my picture so you will know who I am. So long, Bobby.” And finally, one child, clearly out of patience with a non-responsive God wrote: “Dear God, I wrote you before – do you remember? Well, I did what I promised – but you did not send me a horse! What about it? (signed) Lewis.”

When one confronts the innocence and wonder of childhood, one may dismiss those petitions as shallow or even ignorant, but I wonder if we might also find in them at least some reflections of our own thoughts about God and prayer. With our sophistication and (we think) spiritual maturity, we may smile at a child’s desire to become invisible at will, or to gain a baby brother. We may well understand that becoming a better football player, or getting a horse, are more likely to result from processes other than “gimmie” prayers. But consider, what do we put in their place?

In the liturgies given to us by the Church, while there are many prayers which are expressions of adoration such as the opening acclamation, “Blessed be God,” the “Glory to God in the Highest,” and the “Holy, Holy, Holy” there are many other prayers in which we ask for something. At the very beginning of the Eucharist, the Collect for Purity asks that the very thoughts of our hearts might be cleansed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Prayers of the People offer varied requests to God, and our very confession of sin includes our asking for forgiveness. And, of course, in the specific prayer Jesus Himself taught us to pray, we ask for food, for forgiveness, and to be kept from temptation and evil.

So, there’s nothing wrong with asking, and, if we think about it, a child’s desire for a horse makes as much sense to her as the prayers for mercy and peace we sing in the Agnus Dei just before Communion. Each is a lifting up to God what, in all honesty, we believe we need, even though the level of maturity and understanding of real needs may be quite different.

It’s also true that, quite often, we are not sure what God would have us do, we are not sure whether what we think is a need is simply what we want – perhaps closer to the child’s wish for a horse than what will enable us to do God’s will in our lives. Have you ever found yourself in a spot where you really didn’t know what God would have you do, when what you faced was far more complex than choosing between what was clearly right or wrong? O we know there is a big difference between asking for a new Lexus and for the grace to avoid occasions of sin. But sometimes, perhaps all-too-often, we are not all that sure what we should do, what is really needful in a particular situation, and like the children’s letters, we hope that God will really pay attention to our prayers, and that they may be offered for the right things.

Wouldn’t it be lovely if God would send us letters (or, to be more up top date) would fax messages to us, letting us know clearly and unambiguously just what it is we should do in the many puzzling situations we encounter in daily life.

Not every question is simple or clear-cut, and some seem almost impossible! Have you ever found yourself in a spot where you really, didn’t know what God would have you do? The 8^th verse of Psalm 5 is the basis for a wonderful hymn which includes the words: “Lead me Lord, lead me in your righteousness. Make your way plain before my face.” It’s a hymn I have often used as a prayer for God’s guidance when I found myself in uncertainty, and I imagine most everyone here this morning may have had similar experiences.

Even when we may be reasonably sure of what God wants from us, other interests and concerns may enter the picture, leaving it less clear. Both the Hebrew Scriptures and the Gospel we heard this morning give us examples of that. When Elijah threw his mantle over Elisha, calling him to follow and share in God’s work, Elisha said “let me kiss my father and my mother first, and then I’ll join you. And an un-named man, impressed by Jesus, said “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to those at home” – a timetable which did not sit well with Jesus since it put secondary things first.

In fact, we can carry the problem one step further to times when we are quite sure what God wants – and it just isn’t what we want! In one of his most famous outbursts, St. Paul confronted just that saying that so many of the things he knew God wanted him to do, he didn’t do, while instead he did so many things he knew God didn’t want him to do! Again, something with which most of us can identify quite easily.

Sometimes, we do consciously choose to conform our will to God’s. Other times, we may go through quite a battle, not about what we should do as much as about what we actually will do. And that’s the classic definition of sin – knowing what God wants, knowing what is right in a particular situation, but choosing our desires instead.

When we consider the way we pray in our private devotions, what might we learn about our actual beliefs? What kind of God is reflected? Is it a rather lenient deity who, if we beg hard enough, or use the right words, will come around to our way of thinking and give us what we ask for, regardless of whether that be something as noble as world peace, or as self-centered as wanting a new horse.

There are times when things seem overwhelming, frightening, far beyond our control, and all we can do is pray “Help, Lord!” But those two words are quite enough, because, believe it or not, God doesn’t need our guidance to know what is really needed, what should be done. It’s in those moments, when we can’t even concentrate enough to ask to become better football players, or become invisible when we want to, when asking for healing of an illness or safety for loved ones feels like an exercise in futility, it’s at those times that we need to be able to relax and know that we are being carried by the prayers of others, * that it is The Church which is the praying body, and those prayers never stop. We are being prayed for by the Saints in heaven, are one in prayer with the holy souls in Paradise, as well as being prayed for by those now alive on earth.

Permit me to add a personal note. As you might imagine, this is a time in my life in which prayer has become even more important, something I not only do, but seek to understand more fully and clearly.

The outpouring of love and prayerful support from you has been overwhelming, and is appreciated far more than words can express. All of which leads to pondering anew such questions as what is the role of prayer in one’s relationship to God. I found what turned out to be a helpful way of thinking about it all – at least for me – in a short rather unusual piece published by one of our American Episcopal monastic Orders, the Society of Saint Paul, written by one of the Paulist Fathers. It’s called “The Road of Life” and I’d like to end this sermon by sharing it with you.

“At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong so as to know whether I merited heaven when I die. He was “out there,” sort of like a president. I recognized his picture when I saw it, but I didn’t really know him.

Later on, when I met Christ, it seemed as if life was rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike and I noticed that Christ was in the back, helping me to pedal. I don’t know when it was that he suggested we change places, but life hasn’t been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. When He took the lead, he knew delightful “long cuts,” up mountains and through rocky places at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said ‘pedal!’ I worried, was anxious, and asked ‘where are you taking me?’ He laughed but didn’t answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered in to the adventure. When I’d say ‘I’m scared,’ he’d lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed; gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me those gifts to take on my journey – my Lord’s and mine.

And we were off again. He said “give the gifts away – so I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving, I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust him at first with control of my life (I thought he’d wreck it), but he knows bicycle secrets. He knows how to make a bike bend to go around sharp corners, how to jump to clear high rocks, and how to fly to shorten scary passages.

I’m learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places. I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful companion Jesus Christ. And when I’m sure I simply can’t do any more, he just smiles and says ‘pedal!’”

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, depending on our ages, both chronological and spiritual, there will always be desires for getting a horse or becoming a better football player, for healing in time of serious and frightening illnesses, for greater charity toward some who annoy us, and other needs and desires too many to mention. May we always cherish the knowledge that God is there! That God cares! That the way we “pedal” in our lives is by praying –praying as best we can and leaving the rest to God, knowing that, in Him, to quote Dame Julian of Norwich, “All will be well, and all manner of things will be well.”

+ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The Reverend Alfred T. K. Zadig, Sr.

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