In Star Wars, according to Wikepedia, the force is defined as "an energy field created by all living things, that surrounds and penetrates living beings and binds the galaxy together." I couldn't help but smile as Yoda talked to young Luke Skywalker about the Force. In the scene where Luke is training with Yoda, and he says he'll try to move his X-Wing Fighter out of the bog, Yoda says "Try not. Do or do not, there is no try...." That's one we've probably all heard, and know well. It's been used as a motivational phrase for a long time and I think you can get a lot of mileage out of it. He also described the force this way:Yoda said "For my ally is in the Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. It's energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we...(Yoda pinches Luke's shoulder)...not this crude matter. (a sweeping gesture) You must feel the Force around you. (gesturing) Here, between you...me...the tree...the rock...everywhere!"
Now stay with me here...this morning, I sat down before work and watched one of a series of NOOMA videos by Rob Bell. In the video, called "Open," Rob talks about prayer and the origins of prayer. In one part of the video, Rob talks about how Jesus prayed and how Jesus took seriously what he called the "creation poem." In the book of Genesis, God creates. But he creates things that are capable of creating more. So, God created trees, but he gave them the capability to create more trees. He created animals and plants and fish, but then empowered them to create more. And then God created people, and gave them the ability to create more. So everything is basically unfinished and we are invited to take part in this amazing, ongoing creation of the world. Now here Bell says that prayer is the tool God has provided to us to take part in that creation. He says that God's inviting us to take part in how the world continues to be created through open, honest, one-on-one prayer. In James 5:15-16, it says:"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Bell goes on to say that when someone prays, then "somebody who believes that the God who created the universe is at work here and now...Somebody who's aware, who's watching, who's listening...Somebody who's looking for their role to play in the ongoing creation of the world, well, that is going to be powerful.
Interesting that what this fictional wise character, Yoda, has to say is really very similar to what Bell interprets for us. I see Prayer as our "Force." It's the opportunity to use a great gift God has given us to take part in the ongoing creation of the world.
It's easy to imagine prayer as passive, as a simple request and answer, but if we see our role in Prayer and this continuing creation as one that is bigger, we can become aware of Prayer as an active use of a power that lives between us and around us all the time, always working, creating and changing. And we can use Prayer and its power to impact our world for the better.
So, may you grow to know and feel the power of Prayer, and may the force, our Force, one strong and effective, given from our Creator, be with you.
-G
NOOMA is a small nonprofit company working to do things for the right reasons. (taken from the NOOMA website, http://www.NOOMA.com.
