RELIGION 27*8 foolish, and often selfish ; but if we, *' being c'il, know how to give good gifts to our children" when they ask for things which are not good, so our Father in answering our prayers denies in love our mistaken requests' But even so. we must pray, for prayer is a condition of many blessings, even though many are given without the asking. " Ask and ye shall receive." " Ye have not because ve ask not." WTiat inexhaustible treasures are waiting for our prayers — treasures which, if given Ix^fore they are wanted, would only be wasted. And so God, who cannot waste, waits to be gracious, is waiting to give if only we would pray. But if prayer be our greatest power, intercession — i.e., prayer for others — is our highest privilege. " More things are wrought by prayer Than this world dreams of." Indeed, one of the wonders of heaven will De the achievements of the praying saints. WTiy, then, do we not pray more ? Many answers might be given to this question, but space forbids. One only must suffice. Life is increasingly strenuous with some and alarmingly fickle with others. We are getting too absorbed, some with the pur- suits and others with the pleasures of life, to pray as we ought. It is here that the invahd state opens up vast possibilities of service through the ministry of intercession. The Invalid's Ability to Concentrate Those who are permanently laid aside are necessarily detached from the pleasures and pursuits of the world, and have thereby greater facility for concentrating themselves on the things which are spiritual and eternal. Why should not these possibilities become actualities ? Why should not every invalid be encouraged by means of cycles of prayers, lists of intercession, to supplicate, not lor themselves so much as for others. At any rate, I have found again and again that a new interest has entered into an invalid hfe by suggesting subjects for prayer at specified times. There rises, even as I write, before my mental vision a dear old invalid who, bedridden for many years and weary of earth, was always longing for heaven, found a new mission in life, as on each occasion ot my visit I left with her special requests and subjects for inter- cessions. The consciousness that she was not so " useless " as she thought, that she could still " do something " for the Lord she loved, brought with it the joy of service. So I would say to every invahd woman : Try and realise the power and privilege of intercession. Make your sick-room a sanctuary of prayer. Then your suffering will become a blessed ministry for God and others. The Ministry of Personal Service Let us now pass from the practical service of sanctified suffering and the potential nature of intercessory prayer to the possi- bilities of personal effort in the invahd life. We have before suggested the solace that would come to the weary hearts of invalids if, instead of being doomed to inactivity, they were inspired with the thought of ministry. But, alas ! in too many cases the solace has been denied, or, rather, it has never been reahsed, because the possibility of service has never been suggested. It is here that we feel the need for a widespread movement to enhst the services of invalids. Why should not clergy, doctors, nurses, relatives, and friends, combine to encourage personal effort on the part of the permanently sick ? What inconceivable benefits would result from such a movement. Making Garaients for the Poor Foremost amongst practical plans which suggest themselves when we think of what invalid women might do is plain and fancy needlework, useful garmsnts for children, for poor mothers, for sick ones in city slums, for less-favoured invahds, also things orna- mental no less than useful, all the many pretty articles which the deft fingers of women are able in these days to make for sales of work and other allied objects. In many cities there are what we value so much in Birmingham — needlework guilds, to which each member contributes at least two garments for the poor, while in every great town there are clergy who are at their wits' end to know how to help the thrifty and deserving poor of their parishes. It ought to be possible to work this mine to comparatively unworked wealth in the invahd world to the great enrichment of all concerned. Difficulties, of course, there are ; but these never deter, but only inspire the earnest worker. What is needed is enthu- siasm, and the initial difficulties would be easily surmounted. If the invalid is not personally known to the clergy or the minister of the church to which she belongs, as she ought to be, what a perfectly splendid introduction a letter offering help in this way would be ! Or if, again, the invahd is not a member of any religious body — a distinct loss to both — this need be no impediment. Philan- thropy is not conditioned by church mem- bership. So much help is needed that any offer of service would everywhere be wel- comed ; and, indeed, such an offer might easily lead on to something better. other Practical Services But there are other methods of work than these. I have known an invalid wife of a rector who, in addition to being the daily inspiration of her husband in his arduous work, was also his constant help- meet in raising funds both for home and foreign enterprises. I have known, also, an invahd lady whose hfe was a blessed ministry by means of letter-writing. I can imagine invahds learning typewriting, copying, etc., and by these and other means becoming of immense practical service in the various departments of church work.
