'Oh God, You know how hard it is for us, and you will be fair with us. We have seen no visions: we have never heard the audible voice of your son, we have to fight on in much darkness of spirit and mind, both from the ignorance we cannot help and from the fault we could have helped. We inherit blindness from the errors of our fathers; and when fear or the dread of shame or the pains of death come upon us, we are ready to despair and cry out that there is no God, or that if there be he has forgotten his children. There are times when the darkness closes about us like a wall and we can see you nowhere, either in our hearts or in the outer universe, we cry aloud and we listen for any sound of your voice, but we hear nothing. You who know that for which we groan, you whom Jesus called father, we appeal to you, not as we imagine you ut as you see yourself, as Jesus knows you. To your very self we cry-help us! Be our father! We beg for no signs and wonders, but only for your breath upon our souls, your spirit in our heart. We pray for no tongues of fire, for no rousing of brain or imagination or emotion but we do, with all our power of prayer, pray for your spirit. We do not even pray to know that he is given us. Let us, if it so pleases you, remain in doubt of the gift for years to come: but still lead us by your spirit. Aware of only our ordinary movements of mind and soul, may we yet be possessed by the spirit of God, led by your will in ours. For all things in man, even those that seem the most common and the least spiritual, are the creation of your heart, and by the door of our wavering judgement, dull imagination, luke warm love, and palsied will, you can enter and glorify all. Give us patience because out hope is in you, not in ourselves. Work in us and our prayers are answered" Curate Thomas wingfield, 'the lady's awakening' George Macdonald

My friend J. and I were discussing prayer and prophecy and I thought of this quote. I believe there are times G-d speaks audibly, to specific people, but I'm not one of them. I don't know if that will change, I'm open to it, but my rational, European mind understands the above better than moments of rapture. Hope you enjoy! Let me know if you agree or disagree.