Dear Friends,
I wonder if you, like me, find yourself constantly doing mental arithmetic as you walk around the supermarket? Back in the days when I had to watch every penny, I got into the habit of totting up the bill in my head before reaching the checkout, and quite often I find that I am still doing it! And quite often as I walk down the street, I find myself counting my steps and dividing them into fours and threes, a tip I was given by my organ teacher to help me to count evenly when I was playing. I do not need to do either of these things now, but old habits are hard to break.
So, what about the habit of prayer? I was taught to kneel at my bedside and give thanks and pray from a very young age, and I still do it. I was taught to talk to God and chat with Jesus if I was out walking on my own or with the dog, and I still do it. I was taught to think about the needs of others before my own, and I hope I still do that too. And I was taught that everything that I did might be seen as an example to others.
In this harvest season when we are encouraged to be generous and to share the good things that we have been given, it is important to remember how our example can influence others, even people we hardly know, as we go about our daily lives. And the habit of prayer, either alone or in company is so important. It is a powerful way not only to shape our own lives, but through our example, to shape the life of the world.
With love and blessings,
Marion
Categories: Minister's Blog