Meeting in Prayer

The last chapter of my friend's thesis is finally written and as she collapses in a heap, mentally and emotionally drained from years of writing toil, we her friends gather round and pat her on the back with a hearty well done. It is a group sigh of relief and we celebrate with pretty patisserie desserts, cocktails and the essential cup of well brewed tea. We have journeyed with our friend in her labour of words, bringing her to God for inspiration, free flowing thoughts, clarity and calmness of mind.

As I was reading a borrowed copy of Sheldon Vanaulken's 'A Severe Mercy', I found these words of C S Lewis with whom Vanaulken had corresponded,

 

'It is a sweet duty, praying for our friends. I always feel as if I had had a brief meeting with you when I do so: perhaps it is a meeting, and the best kind.'

I sent these words to my thesis writing friend during the intense final leg of her marathon and from then on many of our text messages to each other included the words, 'meeting you in prayer'. Vanaulken and Lewis weren't even on the same continent as they met in prayer and as my friend, barely post-thesis, prepared to move back to Canada with her family, we would soon find ourselves in the same situation. 

There are times when we grow tired and weary, overtaken by circumstances and holding our arms up in prayer is almost beyond us. Is there any way to be a better friend to one another than taking up the sweet duty of praying for each other?

In God's Kingdom miles don't matter. We meet in the throne room of God the Father, side by side, accompanied always by Jesus in whose name we pray. A meeting of the best kind indeed because we meet together with him, the one who we eagerly look forward to meeting face to face some day.