The Road Less Traveled

Prayer Worship "242" Week 2

If you haven't had a chance to come to the new Monday night prayer worship service, "242," then I have to say you are missing out. Why you ask? Pastor Maier's short message was very inspirational. He shared some personal thoughts on what praying through Scripture and his relationship with his father have meant to him, especially throughout his battle with cancer. It was very personal, heartfelt and brought those of us there closer together. The songs, both contemporary and traditional hymns, lifted us beyond this world and took us into the words of Scripture and prayer.

On this night Pastor Maier had us pray through Phil 4:4 - 7. It was interesting to share with others that we were sitting with later commented how Scripture spoke to them in different ways, each depending on their situation or what was going on in life. For me, I appreciate being able to sit back and worship without having to lead. It is a moment for me to fed with the Word and fellowship. But the coolest of all is that I get to sit next to and pray with the members of the congregation.  I shared this with Pastor Maier as an unexpected benefit for us. Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we don't expect.

The Sound of Silence

Yes, it is the title of a Simon and Garfunkel song, (Am I dating myself?) but more importantly it is an idea that we have long forgotten. We live in a world that embraces noise. We have become accustomed to the sound of the city, the racket of the radio, and the clatter of the caravan. Can we come to a place where silence dwells? Have we lost touch with an essential part of our lives? Sometimes it seems like we have. I remember spending time out on an unknown lake in stillness of the wild, in the silence of the morning mist, communing with the calm, just God and myself. It didn't matter if I caught a fish or not, the peacefulness was beautiful. Some of my favorite memories of my childhood involve just me, my God and my canoe.

Trying to enter a world of silence in our own lives can leave us as aliens in our own hearts and minds. We find ourselves wondering in a strange land search for something familiar, driving us back to the noise because the stillness is uncomfortable. When we open ourselves up to the experience of quietness, a million things try to enter our minds. Now I am not speaking of some zen meditation or some Yoga method, but just simply spending a few minutes in stillness, in peace. Henri Nouwen once said of silence that, "It offers the freedom to stroll in your own inner yard, and to rake up the leaves there and clear the paths so you can easily find the way to your heart."

Once you have raked up those leaves, in that silence, let the peace of God fill your heart with the truth that is His love for you. Let the sound of silence lead you into prayer, into conversation with your Lord. Just take that moment and talk to Him. Your life will be Be silent, be at ease, "Be still and know that I am God." Meditate on this from King David in Psalm 37, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;"

Peace, and stillness, be with you.