If this were a story in a newspaper, the train would have crashed, and I would have been miraculously prevented from travelling on it. God's angels would have been looking after me. In fact, I simply missed a meeting, and didn't have a chance to air my views. (Perhaps God was looking after my colleagues?)
God does not look after us like this. A moment's thought will make that clear. If it is God who keeps me safe and preserves me from accidents, what do we say about the people who are not kept safe, and who die in accidents? Do we say that God has deserted them? Or, worse still, that the accident is a result of their lack of faith or their sinfulness?
God has given us the world the way it is. "There are no miracles," said St Augustine, "only undiscovered laws." Avalanches, earthquakes and floods are all facts of life. So are change, decay and death. God has given us the wisdom to live prudently - not to walk on mountain tops during thunderstorms, not to hasten our death by abusing our bodies. But God does not pull rabbits out of hats. And God does not take special care of some people to the exclusion of others. God cares for us all.
This should make a big difference to the way we pray. We may have very specific things to ask about - if only someone would find a cure for cancer, if only our niece could find a nice steady friend, if only the police could find the kidnapper, if only the right person would respond to our advertisement. These are things that we want - for ourselves and for other people. They may very well be things that God wants, for God always wants the best of all of us. But God does not pull rabbits out of hats. God takes people and, if they will listen, lets them offer themselves as instruments.
We are all called as Christians to make intercessions for others. We are to ask God to bring strength to the weak, wisdom to the thoughtless, comfort to the sorrowful, peace to the anxious, guidance to the confused, love to the unloving. That is God's nature.
Our prayers are not an attempt to twist God's arm. God always stands ready to hold us, to be with us and at our side. Our prayers are really directed at the individuals for whom we pray, that they may open their hearts and minds to let God in, to have the confidence to let God take over.
God does not take us over violently. We hear of people being called to work among the poor of the big cities, to preach in distant countries, even to apply to work in Berne! These are not examples of God wielding a big whip and showing who is in control! God does not make specific plans for us in this way. God simply calls us to realize our true potential.
Our true potential lies in listening to God's plans for us. Not just my listening to God's plans for me, but everyone, near or far, listening and accepting God's support and love for them, and working it out freely and in the best way. What about you? What is God calling you to do?
HD