October 2025: Thoughts from Huw

Dear Friends

Luke 18 v1-8

Jesus said to the disciples and says to us, “Pray continually and never lose heart”. Some of us do not see the value of regular prayer.

Mahatma Gandhi said,”One can live several days without food, but not without prayer.”

Prayer is no substitute for action. It is, rather like a beam thrown from a flashlight before us into darkness. It helps us to go forward; it encourages us to act. It is not an escape from life but a journey into the heart of life. We learn to stand on our own feet before God and the world, and to accept full responsibility for our lives. Its main purpose is to foster our relationship with God. It is the anchor of our spiritual lives.

When we learn how to pray, we learn not just how to recite words, but how to open the heart. For me, the type of prayer that nourishes us is quiet prayer of the heart. Just sitting very quietly and opening the heart and letting God in.

The words on the old Wayside Pulpit always reassures me when it says, “Seven prayer less days, makes one weak.”

We are weaker without prayer.

Faith and prayer are interconnected. St Augustine said, “Faith pours out prayer, and the pouring out of prayer sustains and strengthens faith.” Prayer is the oil that keeps the lamp burning. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. And the fruit of service is peace.

With good wishes and prayers

Huw