Photo was taken in Macroom, Co.Cork (Irl)

The golden leaves on a beech tree really stand out in lovely sunshine.

Thought on Wednesday – November – 09/11/2011

‘May God bless us with the faith that we need to overcome the problems and challenges of life. May we grow in confidence in God’s power to help us and support us along the way.’ ~Paul Clayton-Lea

The word prayer has often been trivialized and narrowed down into making it a way of getting what we want. Prayers of petition are an important part of many faith traditions but they are never an end in themselves. God is not a magician who grants certain requests and rejects many more. God is not selective and loves every single one of us the same. Prayer is not about trying to make God happy or a requirement for entry into heaven. Prayer can never become an obligation or something we have to do. It is better understood when we see it like a door or gateway. It opens up many opportunities and allows us to see that God is connected and present in everything we do. In St.Paul’s letter to the Ephesians there is a lovely line that says everything exposed to the light itself becomes light. When we turn to God in prayer, no matter how briefly, we are exposed to this light and we are becoming the light itself. The difficulties and struggles of life may dim this light on occasions but never extinguish it. We keep this light always firmly in our sights.