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 By Rob Des Cotes
[other pieces By Rob Des Cotes]
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to
the likeness of his Son. Romans 8:29
In 1962, the French and British designers of the Concorde unveiled their supersonic jet to the world. Within months of this unveiling, Russian scientists, who had also been working on an aircraft that would surpass all previous speed records, showcased their model as well.
To the surprise of many (and to the suspicions of others) the Russian model looked very similar to the French/British Concorde, with its sleek body and characteristic down-turned nose. But engineers from both nations knew the reason for this similarity in design. It wasn't because of some intrigue of espionage and stolen plans. It was the unseen laws of aerodynamics that dictated the shape of both these jets. If you want to design a plane that will overcome the resistance of aerodynamics in order to travel at more than 1,400mph you will, by necessity, have to conform to the familiar shape of the Concorde. The air is what will ultimately dictate the shape one must take to travel through it.
In the same way, there is a particular 'shape' that prayer requires from us in order to travel through it. There are laws of spirit - dynamics that we must conform to if we want to enter the atmosphere of prayer. Jesus once used the metaphor of passing through the eye of a needle for those who would seek to enter the kingdom of heaven.
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Not every shape is capable of passing through such a particular opening. But those who, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, continue to seek passage towards God will gradually find themselves conformed to the shape of Christ with a humility and righteousness that this particular 'gate' requires.
Our regular practice of prayer is the most direct sculptor of our spiritual formation. The very nature of the Divine-human relationship that it represents forces us to become smaller, more humble, more receptive in order to be rightly related to its summons.
To pray according to the Spirit, we must learn to let go of our own design preferences in favour of the demands the spiritual environment we wish to enter will inevitably place on us. As we assume the shape dictated by the Creator's hands we will be transformed into that which conforms perfectly with what we were ultimately designed for - relationship, in form and essence, with God. Like thread that has been brought to a fine point in order to fit through the eye of a needle, prayer and the life of faith fit us more and more perfectly for heaven's gate.
Rob Des Cotes is a spiritual director and pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He teaches Contemplative Traditions at Trinity Western University, as well as courses on spirituality and the arts at Carey Theological College and Columbia Bible College. Rob also directs Imago Dei (www.imagodeicommunity.ca) a network of faith communities that encourages the practice of prayer and a transforming relationship with God. Rob is a regular contributor to canadianchristianity.com. To obtain 'Higher than I' go to: www.clementspublishing.com
June 26/2008
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