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| Spirit Interceding in Prayer by Barbara As I try to incorporate the three aspects of self, mind-body-spirit, the imbalance of these becomes evident in my prayer time. My body will cry loudly for relief from its pains, my mind will weep loudly for its desire for peace and my spirit seems to whisper its concerns. The struggle comes with the desire of each to be first rather than accept its part of the whole. The mind and body sense that their time is limited while spirit knows that time is endless. How would mind and body act differently if they also had that understanding that time is of no importance? Would their struggles for dominance quiet in the gentle flow of endless time? In this, scripture speaks to me today to let me know that irregardless of my loud desires, my spirit is the final voice to God, leading me on to right thinking. As it speaks to God it is also speaking back to self. Correcting, guiding, making know a better life to be had now as well as future. Without its intercession, the mind and body would continue to struggle with each other for what is best for it and not necessarily what is best for the whole. In what way is this played out in community? As each of us struggles internally with balancing the whole of self, how do we externalize that struggle to our place in the world? It seems that a lot of my struggle to be ahead in the world is mirroring my body’s desire to feel better – more food and goods that provide for my body’s comfort. It also mirrors my mind’s desire for peace – want for end of conflict in daily life, time alone to do as I please. But in the end it is spirit which is interceding. I am reminded that craving for food or comfort is at the expense of others having basic needs. I am shown that by desiring to be left alone I drain the world of the wisdom poured into me meant to be shared with others for the uplifting of the whole. The spirit interceding in my prayer time is not only for my good but for the whole of creation as God created it to be. |