{"id":2149,"date":"2017-08-21T12:50:44","date_gmt":"2017-08-21T10:50:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=2149"},"modified":"2017-08-29T01:43:59","modified_gmt":"2017-08-28T23:43:59","slug":"school-of-prayer-ann-lewin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2017\/08\/21\/school-of-prayer-ann-lewin\/","title":{"rendered":"In the school of prayer with Ann Lewin"},"content":{"rendered":"

For this post I’ve selected an excerpt from Seasons of Grace<\/em> by Ann Lewin that explores the similarities between prayer and bird watching<\/strong>. It’s taken from a chapter entitled, “Material for use in a Quiet Garden” and includes one of her poems, “Disclosure”.<\/p>\n

May her words inspire us to contemplation and get us in the mood for prayer and a little bird watching of our own.<\/p>\n

\nEXCERPT<\/em><\/p>\n

Bird watching has taught me that all is gift. I may go out hoping to see a particular bird – but it may not be in evidence. I can’t control the movement of the birds. And if I am too intent on seeing one particular bird, I may miss a lot of other things that are around. Prayer is like that:<\/p>\n

Disclosure<\/strong>
\nPrayer is like watching for the
\nKingfisher. All you can do is
\nBe where he is likely to appear, and
\nWait.
\nOften, nothing much happens;
\nThere is space, silence and
\nExpectancy.
\nNo visible sign, only the
\nKnowledge that he’s been there,
\nAnd may come again.
\nSeeing or not seeing cease to matter,
\nYou have been prepared.
\nBut sometimes, when you’ve almost
\nStopped expecting it,
\nA flash of brightness
\nGives encouragement.<\/p>\n

So it’s all gift. The work we have to do is be prepared, in the right habitat, with the right disposition. And then we have to respond, with thanksgiving for God’s amazing love which cares even for the sparrows, endangered species that they are. <\/p>\n

 
\nfrom Seasons of Grace<\/em> by Ann Lewin, pp. 208-9
\npoem from Watching for the Kingfishers<\/em>, p. 23 <\/div>\n

On kingfishers<\/h3>\n

I recently saw kingfisher nests in the Biesbosch<\/a> on an outing with my Iona regional group, but no sightings of kingfishers, unfortunately. <\/p>\n

The Dutch call these birds “ijsvogels” (ice birds). In France they are named after St. Martin of Tours: Martin P\u00eacheur (St. Martin’s fisher). I think I like the name “kingfisher” best.<\/p>\n