I saw this painting recently in London. It purports to be St Monica being handed her newly born son who was to become Augustine of Hippo.
It seems to me that this painting explains much.
I saw this painting recently in London. It purports to be St Monica being handed her newly born son who was to become Augustine of Hippo.
It seems to me that this painting explains much.
Thanks for this, Kelvin. I still can’t answer the question, I just know when it’s been answered for me.
I have never found personal prayer particularly easy. It’s not that I don’t believe in it, because I really do, but faced with the challenge of articulating everything before God, I somehow dry up and get frustrated with myself.
I guess I settled on the idea of simply bowing my head and being still in God’s presence. I don’t try to converse with God anymore and simply trust that everything flows through in those moments of stillness. Somehow, it works for me.
This is hardly original with me, but one way of praying is to sing, either aloud (I recommend doing so in the shower, if you don’t live alone) or in your head. The music seems to give wings to the words, and we have so many beautiful hymns. However, if you’re the least bit of a wise-acre, you must guard against “rewriting” the words of hymns and anthems; the new lyrics can be dreadfully tenacious, says (sigh) one who knows
Thank you for this. I’ve struggled with prayer… We’ll, always, but especially since having children (or doing a theology doctorate… One came right after the other so hard to pick a cause)… This gives me hope and encouragement not to give up.
Last night’s service was all that it should have been. Happy, good humoured and dusted with gold. The little organ mass was a delight. God did indeed go up with a great shout. Congregation double what it was last year. Alleluia.
Tomorrow is a glorious feast – it is Ascension Day. It is one of my favourites and celebrates one of those stories from the Bible (like the talking snake with legs in Genesis) that you instinctively know is true. Services at 11 am, 1.05 pm (in Glasgow University Chapel) and 7.30 pm. The evening one…
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