Miniblog #175: How I’m Finally Getting My Prayer Life Together

The new kneeler and Celtic wall cross have helped form a sacred space in my upstairs man cave. To offer a brief reflection, it’s amazing how perfectly liturgical prayer and a kneeler complement each other, and together spiritually fulfill who God made me to be. For the longest time I felt like a giant turd burglar because I hated praying, never wanted to do it, and couldn’t find consistency even when I desperately tried to force myself. Suddenly it’s as though that struggle has lifted. Little did I know all I needed was aesthetic beauty instead of spontaneity, historicity instead of novelty, contemplation instead of zeal, and an acceptance for my felt desire for transcendence rather than an unrelenting commitment to immanence.¹1.For the liturgical nerds, the three books on the kneeler’s shelf are Celtic Daily Prayer, the Church of England’s Common Worship, and the Church of Ireland’s 2004 edition of the Book of Common Prayer–all of which I love. Oh, Anglican tradition, how I love you! Also, the coming together of the Celtic cross and the picture grandpa bought after being born again so many years ago truly embodies and encapsulates my faith journey. There’s almost this strange sense of wholeness in it. I look at it and think, ‘Evangelical Anglican. Yup. That fits.’ Seems like God is doing a lot of that recently.²2.Specifically with my forthcoming ordination in February together with (hopefully) getting hired by InterVarsity in March.