Let us talk about prayers – that which people pray, and those who pray.
When I myself pray, do I always and always praise God? God, no!
“I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time” – Friedrich Nietzsche. “The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays” – Soren Kierkegaard.
But, you say, Nietzsche and Kierkegaard were not religious, to say the least! No, but they instinctively knew about the relationship between the prayer and the prayer and the one prayed to.
Top image, above: Sharing on Facebook, a revelation to me, a Catholic. Mother Teresa speaks:
I used to pray for answers, but now I’m praying for strength. I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us and we change things.”
So? Prayer works!
We cannot simply pray, “God, please take good care of my family” – and then expect God to do everything else.
You cannot simply pray, “God, please take good care of my community” – and then expect God to descend from Heaven and command His people to do good to each other!
Top image, below: On Facebook, Rogelio Concepcion shares the bottom image (where the whole thing turns this way and that, nonstop), with the stark note below it: “In the end, being lazy at home is the best” (Giphy[1]). And I say, “No Sir! Definitely not!”
But what can you do when you cannot or should not go out of your residence? Not one but all of these:
(1) Send out Love! Not simply reassuring words, not only kind words but in kind!
(2) Stay put!Follow all legitimate rules of the Lockdown and behave like a good girl/boy should.
(3) Stay connected. Especially when not all members of your family no longer live in the same residence. You need each other, not only in remembrances.
(4) Behave!Do not pray to be good – just do it!
(5) Stay digital! If you have a WiFi connection, use it all the time, at least most of the time. That will keep you busy, that will keep you sane!
And, whether Catholic or Protestant, you must pray with St Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
At these trying times, is it difficult to do anything for your community or family for love? Not if you follow the advice of little St Therese of Lisieux:
Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.
Love!
Love people who hate you. Pray for people who have wronged you. It won’t just change their life… it’ll change yours. – Mandy Hale, The Single Woman@517
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