H,
It has always been hard to
connect immediate problems of life on earth with the high idea of a present
God. We might see the Godhead in overarching themes but not in the daily
drudgery of making a living or framing a life. This also means that God becomes
not just a distant being but also a useful one. A disposal presence for the
little stuff and inconvenient spaces of our lives but a fine refuge and help
when we get into the more absorbing troubles of purpose and being. This dichotomy
creates the space between what we profess and how we live.
Now, we all do this. We all
reduce God. At least I can speak for both of us. We have had many conversations
either way. The first one would be about how we can tackle some real issue in
front of us, something based in brown earth and in need of a practical response
that trumpets, robes and winged creatures might find unappealing. We think
through it and we say such nonsense as “well, God gave us a brain to solve
problems. We can think our way out of this.” The second one is trickier problem,
a little rugged path and a mountainous quest. The thinking has failed and we
are out of our depth and suddenly it is time to get the old miracle worker in
the room. Cue: song, dance, lights, camera, prophecy and action.
In both responses we have
missed the point of the whole thing.
Prayer connects us to God in
the most intimate way possible in our present state. It is intrusive because we
are reminded of our helplessness. Our great fear is to be helpless, to appear
weak, to not be a hero and to be only a small part of a much larger wheel. Our great
fear it to realise who we truly are. We cannot have intimacy without
revelation. We cannot come close to the light and not be aware of the many plot
holes in our ongoing storylines. We cannot come to real prayer without the
vulnerability that we so desperately avoid in real life for fear of being weak and
the much greater fear of being used by others because of weakness.

We forget that we are not
being weak to lovers, friends, landlords, rivals, parents or even ourselves. We
are being ourselves in front of our Creator. That is always a good place to
start.