License to Pray

In the realm of spy fiction and movies, James Bond was famously issued a license to kill  by Her Majesty's Government.  In the real world, no such power exists (or at least none that anybody has ever admitted to).  This is a good thing, practically and philosophically.  Still, the concept offers an opportunity to contemplate the idea of deputizing power.  Traditionally, it has been the state, whether embodied in the person of an absolute monarch or an elected government, that has been seen as legitimately exercising such authority.  Delegating this ability, something that happens when soldiers take to the battlefield or police use lethal force, is an exercise in trust.  It is one that carries risks.  The hope is that it will be used judiciously, discretely, and wisely.  This does not always happen.

There are other areas in life where power is delegated.  Consider prayer.  God has given each of us and all of us a direct line of communication.  As Creator of the Universe, King of Kings, the Lord Almighty, God could easily wall himself of from us.  Instead, he invites us to talk at any time about anything.  What an amazing display of trust!  God opens the door, picks up the line, keeps checking the mail, expecting that we will reach out to him in prayer.  Talk about a license to do something.  In one sense, we are called to use wisdom and caution when we pray - is such and such or so and so something we really want to bring to God's attention?  In another, we're called to throw caution to the wind - to be confident that we can bring anything to God in prayer.

As Lent begins to come to a close, I hope, I pray that we will each make use of the license to pray that each of us has received from God, that we will offer prayers of gratitude, penitence, supplication, intercession, and praise, in faith and with love.

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