In the 1960s, I read a book entitled Are you running with me, Jesus? (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1965) by Episcopalian (Anglican) priest, Malcolm Boyd. Interesting title, isn't it? Here is an excerpt that will give you an idea of what the book is about.

It's morning, Jesus. It's morning, and here's that light and sound all over again. Where am I running? You know these things I can't understand. It's not that I need to have you tell me. What counts most is just that somebody knows, and it's you. That helps a lot. So I'll follow along, okay? But lead, Lord. Now I've got to run. Are you running with me, Jesus?

I lived in Knox College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for six years between 1956 and 1961 — three years in undergrad at the University of Toronto and three years studying at Knox College. I had not had much of an intentional prayer life before then, so I welcomed the opportunity to participate in the daily chapel services mid-morning, Monday to Thursday, and a residence prayer group involving 6-7 of the residents (theologues and students in other faculties) which met Monday to Thursday for a half-hour of prayer at 10 p.m. I seldom missed either opportunity. In the evening prayer group, we just prayed about our lives and for each other and for whatever happened to be going on in the world around us at the time.

During the early 1960s, I was sitting in a classroom at Knox College listening to Dr. David Hay lecture on prayer. Dr. Hay usually stuck pretty close to his notes. This one day, however, he looked up from the lectern and mused out loud, "I wonder what would happen if we prayed with our eyes open."

• Running with Jesus
• Sharing our lives with others in a supportive environment, in which we are learning from others how to pray
• Praying with our eyes open

Do you see where this is going?

Prayer is about life — about life lived in the presence of God. We may stop or retreat for intensive "seasons" of prayer — daily, more frequently, or perhaps occasionally — but every moment of our living is "prayer time".

Or it can be! We can invite Jesus to run with us wherever we go and whatever we do, or better yet, we can run with Jesus. "Am I running with You, Jesus?"

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do. (CEV)

Prayer: We're praying on the run, today (maybe every day), God. And we are praying every moment. We are living every moment conscious of Your presence with us. Thank You that we can do that. Amen.

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About the author:

John Carr <crosbiecarr@yahoo.com>
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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