Simon Says ...

--> Exodus 17.8-12 ; Luke 11.1-13 It is a great pleasure to be with you this morning.   I’m very grateful to Matt for the invitation to be here, and I bring you greetings from your Cathedral Church where we pray for you regularly. We pray for you, and I’ve been invited to talk this morning on the theme of prayer.   At the Cathedral, I’ve been involved in running a “School of Prayer”. In part, that is for those who are Christians but could use some focussed input on prayer.   It is also aimed at those who are not Christians, but who want to learn to pray.   Learning to pray, of course, brings people close to God.   The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that communities of prayer are one of his key priorities, and launched a communitybased at Lambeth Palace this week.   So it is really great that you are marking National Prayer Weekend .   This is important stuff you are doing. But let me make a confession.   I find prayer r...

Silence is one of the important elements of my life, especially my spiritual life (whatever that is). So here are some more or less random reflections on why I find silence valuable: Silence is listening carefully and patiently for the voice of God Silence is opening myself to the love, call and judgement of God Silence is the best way of expressing the otherness (the holiness) of God Silence is rooting myself here and now Silence is attention to the present Silence is the prayer of God within me Silence is a pause from the frenetic business of life Silence is being vulnerable Silence is difficult Silence is carving out space for God Silence is waiting to see what will happen Silence sometimes leads me into sleep Silence needs practice Silence is something I need Silence is a discipline Silence means quieting all my agendas, my hopes, fears, wants and stuff Silence is an acknowledgment that I might have some things badly wrong Silence is uncurling Silence is giving up defensiveness Si...