"On Prayer"

prayer:  a practice of communicating with one's God; petition, request

Mentally, I went through the check list:  rubber boots--check; rain paints--check; pressure washer in place, all fittings tightened; water turned on, gas tank full.  All that was left was to pull the starter, and I could begin my job.

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The sidewalk entrance to the law offices was covered with moss.  A woman had slipped on the slimy stuff before so my client had asked me to pressure wash the area clean.  I assured him that I would---but that was several months ago.  He very kindly asked it of me again this past week.  My plan was to have it taken care of when he returned to his office Monday.

The label atop my machine states, "Easy Start."  Wrong!!  One cannot believe everything one reads.  After more than a few pulls on the starter, it fired up—for about 10 seconds.  (It had been a while since I used it.)  “Please, God.  Please get this thing started.”  It wasn't happening.  The starter cord had wrapped around itself inside the casing, and it did not want to release.  

      

I worked with the starter cable and attempted repeatedly to start it, but to no avail.  The only option facing me was to load the pressure washer back onto the truck, determine what was wrong with it, and come back another day.  

Just then a man walking down the street asked,. “Do you need some help?”  I immediately accepted his offer.  It wasn’t an easy task for him either. Often a guy is able to start my equipment on the first try when I’ve struggled unsuccessfully for 10 minutes or more but not so this time.   It took quite a bit of effort on his part, but finally the recalcitrant pressure washer decided to cooperate. 

Thrilled, excited, and thankful as the engine roared away, I gave him a "high-five."   As he walked away I said, “Thank you.  You are an answer to prayer.”  Sometimes I have no idea what is going to come out of my mouth. This was one of those times, but yes, he was.

What, exactly, is prayer?  And the age-old question—does “it” work?  And, another question—why bother? 

For me, prayer is an ongoing part of my daily life as my spirit, soul, and being reach out to my Heavenly Father.  For some, it may be like a meal, where one stops and eats, setting aside a specific time to communicate with Him.  For others prayer may be like a visit to the emergency room, a last resort, utilized only in the most dire and crucial times of life.     

As to whether "it" works or not, it is my opinion that "it" comes with several caveats.  It's similar to looking at a house, a car, a boat, anything which has a price tag on it and questioning if I can afford it.  The answer to that always comes down to how much money I have to spend, what my resources are.  Prayer, in and of itself, is just words and has no value. The value of prayer depends upon the One to whom one prays, one's relationship to and with Him, and what His resources are.
     
I am not a pray-er.  I used to be, coming before God with my list of requests, creating an attitude of reverence in myself as I bowed my head and closed my eyes.  That form, that ritual disappeared as I became more acquainted with Him..   

When one has a best friend, a no-holds-barred friend, and that friend knows all of your secrets and every single thing about you, you are free to be--free to be yourself.  "What to do?  Help!!  Thank you SO much!  I don't understand.  What is the point?  I don't 'get it.'  I am scared--really, really scared.  Are you sure you know what you're doing?" This is God I am talking to, and I can be myself and be completely honest with Him.  And yes, this is prayer.  Do I ask specific things of Him as well?  Absolutely!!  

There are many who feel there is power in numbers, that the more people who pray for something or someone the more likely God is to answer.  Support of fellow man is certainly priceless, but I am of the inclination that quality is of greater importance than quantity. Is God more likely to respond to a mass plea than an individual?  I don't think so, but that is just me.    

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

Recently I attended an event in a public venue.  Before the program began, the one in charge asked those in attendance to bow their heads as prayer was offered, asking God's blessing upon the program and safety for those involved.  As the prayer concluded I found myself thinking, "Those requests should have been made privately not publicly." 

Prayer is a very personal, very private thing, and I am of the conviction that it is only for the ears of God, not man.  Am I against public prayer?  I may be.  It's something I am working through and have not yet come to a conclusion about.

"When you pray, do not be like those who love to pray standing in the synagogue and on the street corner.  But go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your Father in secret."

Prayer is never about the words.  Prayer is always about the heart and its sincerity, reaching out to our Heavenly Father, seeking Him and Him alone.

"When you pray, do not keep talking on and on......like those who think they will be heard because they talk a lot."

And that brings me to the final question--Why bother?  

On my best of days, I am barely able to see the nose on the end of my face.  I live and function at ground level.  Why then, wouldn't I relate to and communicate with the One who created me, Who knows me far better than I know myself, Who loves me and cares about every facet of my life?  Left to myself, I am a floundering idiot on the face of this earth. Prayer is how I am able to express myself to God.  He hears and He does respond. And that is why.

"I will lead you and guide you in the way you should go."




      

"On 'What If?'"

Weedeater in tow, I headed to edge the lawn before mowing.  “Thankfully, I’m not going to be doing this forever,” I thought.  The thought brought me some solace.  I’ve mowed that same lawn scores of times.  The repetitiveness week after week, year after year can be mentally taxing.  And “forever” is a long, long time.

forever:  adv.  for all time, for all eternity, for an infinite amount of time.  Syn.:  always, eternally, evermore, continually 

One of my pregnancies was in the heat of summer.  Plagued with allergies and unable to take any form of medications for the ravaging attacks made it difficult.  In addition, the little one decided to delay entrance into the world 10 days past the due date.

I remember a specific point in time when I determined I was going to be pregnant forever.  It was not a point open for discussion, but even if it was, no one could have persuaded or convinced me otherwise.  Logic would not have prevailed.  The mind is a formidable battleground.  And “forever” is a long, long time.  I knew it to be so.

We live in a society, a culture, where the importance of being prepared is stressed.  In fact, fortunes are made from the promotion of preparedness.  An effort is made to be ready for every kind of potential, hypothetical situation from the beginning of life to the end.

Many parents begin preparing for their child’s college at the time of birth by setting up a college fund.  There are those who start in infancy, making certain their child is placed in the “right”  school from nursery school through high school so he/she will be accepted into the "right" college.  This is preparation at its finest.

The base premise, the sales pitch of insurance salesmen is that of the need to be prepared for the possibility of any variety of scenarios.   We all have insurance policies “in case of” earthquakes, flooding, fire, automobile accidents, and death.  Death is the only assured, inevitable one.

The amount of money spent on the insurance industry promoting protection and preparedness is astronomical.  It is estimated Americans spent near 1 trillion dollars on health insurance alone in 2014, and that does not include private company health plans.  

Many have a stockpile of food and cash out of fear the electrical grid will be disabled.  The possibility of intruders is dealt with by alarm systems in our homes and/or personal firearms.  Stock portfolios are diversified so that the ups and downs of the stock market have the least possible affect.  Families have plans in place if disaster strikes so family members know where to go, what to do, where to meet.  

Flu shots, annual health exams, gym memberships—all in the hope of averting any physical condition or disease.  We prepare for the end of life with wills, funeral plans, and directives when we may not be able to express our will concerning physical care. 

It is my belief that man has been created an eternal being.  While our physical life, the short-term one, may last several decades, perhaps 9 or even 10, the next life, the long-term one, extends into infinity.  We are actually "forever" beings.  Life does not end upon physical death.  Each one of us is one step, one breath, one heartbeat away from the next dimension, and that dimension is more real and has more substance than anything we see or experience with our physical eyes. 

It is not my goal nor my desire to try to convince you of something you simply do not believe.  However, it IS my goal and my desire to challenge you to question the truth and merit of what I say.  

Take a single step back and look, consider, evaluate.  What if?  Given the fact of the brevity of our physical life in comparison to the length of the next one, what if man prepared for long-term with even a small amount of the time, energy, and thought given in preparation for short-term?  Let me see--90 years vs. infinity.  From a place of pure logic and common sense, which warrants the greater attention?  What if?  "Forever" is a long, long time.  

"In my Father's house are many places to live.  I am going there to prepare a place for you. I will take you with me so that you can be where I am."

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