Posted by Anne Ward on June 23, 1999 at 11:28:23:
In Reply to: name this thread posted by juanito on June 23, 1999 at 07:46:01:
: ultimately, "it is well with my soul" must contain the sentiment and assertion that "it will be well with all souls" and our hearts must be willing to bear all sorrows and sufferings of the world even as they bear all of its hopes and joys
: if one's prayer life does not yield the fruit of solidarity and compassion, does not carve out a space in one's heart big enough for sorrow and joy, does not move our every concern from the realm of i, me, mine to we, us, our ... it has nothing to do with contemplation and everything to do with an insidious, sterile, narcissistic, introspective navel-gazing
Isn't this why we should kneel at His feet and learn from Him? Is this a more beautiful way of saying, in effect, what James said in his book to us all: Show me your works and I will show you your faith. Faith and works go hand in hand. If not, we are, as you say, navel-staring.
Our prayer life SHOULD yield fruit of love, compassion and care for others...otherwise, our prayers are from a heart of selfishness, are they not?
As followers of our Lord should we not carry the joy and the sorrow of the world into our prayers? Carry Yugoslavia there; carry the homeless there...as examples...BUT, go one step further and DO something to help those in Yugoslavia and those that are homeless. DO what you can...using whatever means available to you. It is like Jesus said [parphrasing very loosely], what good does it do to say to the man sitting in hunger and poverty, I will pray for you. Will your prayers feed him, nourish him?
One hope is that if we cannot physically nor financially be of help, are not true, compassionate prayers a means of giving the help we can give? Maybe by our prayers we can open the eyes and pocketbooks of those who have the wherewithal to provide that which we cannot.
just some thoughts.......
blessings, and grace,
anne