Cycling Against The Wind

Yesterday I met my friend Keith for coffee at Martellos. The  café’s only three miles away so I cycled. It was exceedingly windy. Getting there was easy; the wind was behind me. Cycling home against the wind I huffed, puffed, and wished I was thirty years younger.

Sometimes life’s easy – like cycling with the wind; sometimes it’s really tough – like cycling against it…

This morning, reading Luke 11, Jesus’ teaching about prayer, I found an old sermon that included:

Prayer is not…

…for the spectator, who stands back as an audience to see what Christians are like. It is not for the man or woman who keeps their distance and looks on with interest or criticism, the pundit who sits in the studio and has never experienced it.

…for the complacent who can’t be bothered – for the defeated who accepts things as they are and believes that they cannot change and have given up on their world.

…for the isolated individual who is determined to live life on his own and will not let God or anyone else into his own little world and keeps his distance from anyone who might challenge, disturb or threaten.

Prayer is for…

…the romantic idealist who thinks about the best and longs for it to happen and is determined not to lose their dream.

…the compassionate supporter who cares about people. Those who long to see the weak supported, the failing succeed, the prisoners freed, the addicts released. Those who longs to see the family of faith changed, and society transformed with a social justice.

…the honest scientist who comes with an open mind to look for personal evidence and try it out. The scientist who when faced with apparent failure will come back again and again.

This morning I get on my ‘prayer-bike’, whatever way the wind’s blowing. A favourable wind may carry me along easily; a strong opposing wind may require more hard work and determination. Either way I shall endeavour to keep my prayer-pedals turning.