In yesterday's post I conceded that only a few books on prayer have significantly influenced my own understanding and practice of prayer. But there are several that did have lasting effect, and to which I've gone back when I needed a nudge in a prayerly direction. Oh I do realise that 'prayerly' is a made up adverb, and without needing spellcheck getting all upset about it. Sometimes if a word is not to hand, there's a case for temporary semantic improvisation.
By 'prayerly direction' I mean capable of drawing me back to that state of mind that is considerate towards God, a bit like remembering I haven't spoken to a close friend for ages.
By 'prayerly direction' I mean awakening awareness that life has become too much hassle, the day and my head is overly busy, and God is being forgotten in the whirlwind of my imagined service to Him.
By 'prayerly direction' I mean recognising and provoking that unexplained longing for God knows what; yes literally, for God knows what.
By 'prayerly direction' I mean opening up new horizons of faith, hope and love, initiating a work of inner expansion towards new trust, forward impetus, and radical compassion for the world.
It's hard to find all that in a book, and probably impossible to find it all in one book. But Richard Harries' Prayer and the Pursuit of Happiness is one of those few that even attempt nudging us in a prayerly direction. The 1985 Archbishop of Canterbury Lent Book is subversive, exhilarating, and wise. It subverts the common assumption that holiness is the crucifixion of desire, and that happiness is an unworthy human goal. It is a robustly positive account of happiness as a cluster of life qualities that lead to human fulfilment. It is filled with wisdom from across the ranges of literature, theology, art, philosophy, and all of these filtered through the pastoral experience and instincts of the author.
The first chapter is like counter intuitive spiritual direction. Listen to what you want, and never despise wanting. Desire is a fundamentally motivating human passion and to be guided rather than suppressed. Then a whole chapter argues for the seriousness of happiness, and against the view that happiness is a trivial fascination with effervescent pleasures. The human heart hungers; for joy, for peace, for justice, for love, and for more than our words can say or our hearts can hold. Happiness may often depend on circumstances, and it's neither good nor possible to be happy all the time. But the constituents of happiness are embedded in the purposes and nature of God. Happiness matters and can be found, Harries argues as he explores joy and resurrection, joy and suffering, joy and contemplation, and all of these are rooted in the God to whom we pray and whose purpose is in our coming to be all that he calls us to be.
The rest of the book explores peace, fulfilment, success, security, and love, each one an essay on the heart's longing and the pull of God's love, mercy and grace. Each chapter ends with a prayer. One example, from the prayers at the end of the reflection on success. "O God, most perfect love become most vulnerable, help us to share in and not spoil your great work." Happiness and success is to give our lives to sharing in, and not spoiling God's great work.
There are seven chapters, so 40 minutes a day would be more than worth the risk of investment. I would hope at least some would find themselves nudged in a prayerly direction. Now one of my friendly interlocutors complained tongue in cheek yesterday that book recommendations on this blog are costing him a fortune. Here's the thing. Prayer and the Pursuit of Happiness can be had for £2.80 postage included, or thereabouts, on a certain marketplace platform.
One of the closing prayers at the end of the book, one that always nudges me in a prayerly direction for those I love:
We hold in your presence, O Lord,
all those we love and those who love us.
Your love is so much greater than ours
and you work unceasingly for our well-being.
With all your resources of infinite wisdom and patience,
bestow on them the fullness of your blessing.
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