I prayed less and guess what happened

I prayed less and I worried more.
Why am I surprised that this happened?
Isn't it me who has a badge on my blog saying Worry Less, Pray More

You'd think I'd know the truth and power of prayer. But no, I clearly was taking prayer for granted and thought I could have a little holiday on holiday.

It's not even as if I stopped praying altogether, far from it. I continued to do my daily bible reading and prayer and write my reflections for the blog; I still prayed with Rachel; and I was praying as things came to mind.

What I'd stopped were the more formal morning and evening prayer routines which I do every day. I laid the reason for this on the fact that I hadn't brought my lectionary and didn't have Internet access in the hotel; but let's be clear about it, these are just excuses!

I could have prayed without these tools; I know the liturgies completely and can easily pray without the formal offices, don't I teach that regularly.

But I didn't and my worry increased. Over the coming weeks I will spend some time trying to get to the bottom of why I abandoned the very systems which support, maintain and inspire me. But for now I'm pleased that I've learned the lesson that I need prayer as much as the air I breath, water I drink and food I eat.