How Psalms can help us get our prayers off the ground
One reaction
Last week I sent my ‘Discovering Psalms as Prayer’ to a fellow- retired priest, Canon Robin Morrison (author of ‘Love’s Energy’*). He sent me back a long reflective piece about it. Here are some of the things he wrote:
‘Really inspiring…
‘You dealt with the problems directly and honestly. You shared schema which made sense. You demonstrated that you had found a way of using the psalms not just talking about them. ‘It struck me as a book about prayer first and using the psalms in prayer second…
‘Some find attitudes in the psalms which are arrogantly self-righteous and brutally excluding in their attitude to others. There are parts that imply and others that speak overtly of a vengeful, wrathful and nationalistic God, who, it is believed, directly intervenes to punish and destroy enemies. Like many, I’ve found such assertions hard to use in prayer and reflective of a dangerous or unhelpful spirituality. It’s hard to reconcile these theological attitudes with other parts of psalms that are jewels of reflection and inspiration. But your suggestions about how to use them were really helpful…‘I have much to learn. Thank you for making your own special contribution to that. I will try again!’
Response
Robin’s email gave me a real jolt. I wrote the book about four years ago, and have tried in a half-hearted way to promote it in the belief it could help someone. Robin got me to believe in the book and gave me the push to try to let others know about it. So look out for:
- my first Facelive on Chanting Psalms for Health
- some tweets and Facebook posts this week, plus
- a Zoom discussion at 7.30 pm Wednesday 10th February
The Zoom discussion will include:
- how some psalms can help us pray
- how they can create a framework for the day
- who wrote the Psalms, and
- what to do about the aggressive, unforgiving and Zionist psalms?
If any one these interests you, tune in on Wednesday 10th at 7.30 to:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82909128301?pwd=QUxyc1JqOGY4S0RqbmFFNnhSY3JVZz09
Meeting ID: 829 0912 8301
Passcode: 419685
If you have difficulty, phone me on 07508 961 055
A Next Step
Check out the book itself. Sadly I am having trouble with my website – hopefully sorted out this week. So the best way to check out my book is on Amazon. The book is £9.99, and £4.99 on Kindle. I recommend the second edition, because that has a chapter about ‘Who Wrote What When’; and the suggested daily prayer s are collected in a section at the back which makes them easier to find. I certainly find it helpful and use it almost every day.
Finally
Do share this with anyone you think might be interested!
God bless
Andy
- A review of Canon Robin Morrison’s book, ‘Love’s Energy”:
“The Rev Canon Robin Morrison writes with energy, enthusiasm and understanding as he tackles the fault lines between science and theology. The result is a thoughtful and thought-provoking argument about the origins of the universe, which offers original insights into one of our deepest mysteries. The Most Rev Dr Barry Morgan, Archbishop of Wales”.