A Time to Pray

Last Saturday we saw the Oxford and Cambridge boat race dramatically disrupted when a protester swam across the River Thames. The incident raises security questions ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. After the race was restarted there was fresh chaos when the two crews clashed and one of Oxford's oars snapped off.  The team's desperate efforts to recover caused one of their rowers to collapse as they crossed the finish line. The team’s president blamed the protester for Oxford's defeat, saying in a Twitter message: "My team went through seven months of hell, this was the culmination of our careers and you took it from us."

Just last week at the Reading Half Marathon a race I ran a man died after collapsing at the finish line. Fortunately these are not stories we hear often after any sporting event but the point is none of us know what is around the corner.  How then do we cope with the uncertainties that life throws our way? In Matthew 5 Jesus tells us not to worry about things but this is easier said than done. How do we prepare ourselves for the unknown in such a way that ultimately allows us to stretch ourselves and achieve what we believe to be God’s purpose for our lives?

This Saturday churches in the Oxford Diocese gather to pray for all aspects of the 2012 Games. But although some of us will go to church to pray, some will be praying whilst walking, cycling, running and even swimming.  It occurs to me that this is something that many will not quite understand. After all prayer is about getting on our knees either at bed time or perhaps in church when mostly some else prays while we listen and say amen at the end. But there is no limit to the ways in which we can communicate our thoughts, concerns and longings to God

As a runner I am used to praying whilst on the move it may be through words said out loud,  listening to music or the bible on my IPOD, or just giving my thoughts to God as I run. I remember a few years ago whilst I was at St Paul’s church in Slough we organised a prayer walk to bless our local community which was quite simply walking from one area of Slough to another stopping and praying for the people we see around us, and places as we walk by.  This proved to be a very engaging and satisfying way to pray as well as an opportunity to spend time with each other.

Expressing our selves in prayer creatively using our whole being has to be at least illuminating and fulfilling as after all God created us in his image with the ability to express ourselves in different ways. So if at times we struggle to find the right words in prayer perhaps God is saying how about using your creativity, it’s ok. I do hope that Saturday’s prayer day is not a one off but that people will be encouraged to make a habit of walking and blessing the places where they live and work. Perhaps  adopting a place, to walk it at least once a week and to keep speaking blessing over it. Wouldn’t it be amazing if the 2012 Games are recognised as not just the games that changed the nation’s fortune financially but spiritually.