I am not going to apologise for my tendency (on this site and elsewhere) of trying to translate the monastic into the context of the domestic. But I also absolutely want to acknowledge that there are other ways into deepening our prayer life. Regular here, Rev. Tim Chesterton, pointed to this book. Thanks!
As Tim said, it takes our domestic context seriously, and as a starting point. That connects with the important aphorism, “Pray as you can, not as you can’t”. Our ordinary life is not a distraction from prayer and a relationship with God, it is God’s gift to us. That does not mean that everything in our ordinary life is fine. We can avoid and escape from God through things in ordinary life – but, let’s be honest, that can happen to monastics also.
This little book is a quick read, with down-to-earth realism, and concrete advice and suggestions: prayer through the day, with children, with teenagers, at work, in silence, when it seems impossible.
Buy it. Read it. Share it. Get it onto your parish/community’s library shelf.
Thank you for posting – I would endorse many of his books. Just one small point – Stephen is now Bishop of Chelmsford.
Thanks for the clarification, Juliette. Blessings.
Bosco, I’m so glad that you enjoyed this little book. I’d rate it as one of the very best and most practical books about prayer I’ve ever read. Have you read any of Stephen Cottrell’s other books? He’s written excellently about evangelism from an Anglo-Catholic standpoint.
Minor correction: when the book was written, he was indeed suffragen bishop of Reading. He has since become diocesan bishop of Chelmsford.
Thanks, Tim. Sounds like some good reading suggestions. Blessings.