Invites From Heaven

This week in our Explore Club was about prayer. We were a little disappointed at the start of the session because there was a clash and some students couldn’t come. Despite that we carried on as planned. After a short video on prayer , the conversation went a little like this:

“Do you pray?”

“No!
Well not unless I’m desperate!”

“Thats a shame we are wanting to set up a prayer space in the school!”

“Could it have nice sofas?" [In the media clip we were watching a lady was curled up in a big chair, with her bible, talking about prayer]

We asked the students why? Would this make a difference? In response two students responded in unison, sharing some profound thoughts, which demonstrated a deeper innate understanding of prayer. They said together in a chorus fashion:
"When you are comfy you relax,
And when you relax you think,
And when you think you think you pray,
And when you pray you feel connected,
And when you feel connected you know you are invited,
And when you are invited you are happy,
And when you are happy you can’t help but make others happy.”

We responded by saying “It sounds like if you were comfy, you would actually like to pray?”
At which point they grinned and said “totally!”

The whole conversation got me thinking about the power of language, the problematic nature of stereotypes and how being intentionally curious is a game changer..

I’ve also been considering there pronouncement that when they are comfortable, they begin to think, which leads to prayer which leads to connection, which results in an invite.. The idea that if  young people are in the right spaces they experience invites from God is a clear challenge. By way of response I'm considering how to ensure I am intentionally working with  small groups, in comfortable settings, providing permission and opportunity to relax and think. Because when we do, they experience invites from heaven…