The fascinating bewildering practice of prayer – Introduction, Part 1
Why am I writing a book on prayer?
The longer I live the more I realize how little I know about so many things. This includes things for which I have studied or worked very hard for and things which hold great interest for me. For instance, I graduated at the top of my class in college with an accounting degree. I also am a CPA with over 35 years of business experience. And though I have learned a great deal through the years and have much experience, often I am confronted by the reality of how little I know.
I am not trying to minimize education or experience as both are valuable allies and serve us well. Still things constantly change, and we never quite know what is just around the corner. These last few years have made that crystal clear with the tsunami-like impact of the coronavirus. At times like this it’s helpful to dwell on things you know to be true and to remind yourself of what matters most.
I have written a book over the past few years about such things. Things such as heart, and prayer, humility, and hope. Celebration made the cut as did work and vision, courage and authenticity, love, home, simplicity, truth, and honor. All important things. And most important of all is Jesus.
Since my previous writing, I have longed to explore further the idea of prayer. This is certainly not because of any expertise I have, but purely due to the importance of the topic. And though many would acknowledge its importance, I believe most people feel inadequate in regards to prayer. I certainly do. Though I have been a follower of Christ for 50 years, and acknowledge his passion and practice of prayer, I find it difficult to follow in his footsteps in regards to prayer.
Most of us feel like prayer failures as we bumble and stumble along in our efforts to communicate to God. As a young college graduate, I met weekly with other Christians for fellowship and Bible study and prayer was always a part of our meeting, usually as we closed. Due to the fact that we all felt the same inadequacy in regards to prayer, we decided to dedicate one year of our meetings exclusively to prayer. We were serious about our commitment, but as with most things we do, we executed it clumsily. We would greet one another for a brief time of fellowship and then turn to our knees for an hour of prayer. We would pray individually for that hour, and when done, gather again for fellowship and refreshments.
I remember very little about our year of prayer other than we prayed and that we were glad that we did. I don’t remember any answered prayers or really even what we prayed for. I do know that we all longed to touch the Divine and to become closer to our Heavenly Father. I believe that happened. I also know that the people from that group are some of my dearest friends to this day.
I know many are tired and burdened by the current state of affairs. These conditions have been imposed and are not of our choosing. Still we choose how we respond. It’s unhelpful to compare yourself to others most anytime and this is no exception. While commerce has slowed to a crawl with many unemployed and furloughed, there are others who have never worked as hard or as long. What is true for all of us is that the future looks quite different than it did just months ago.
With the world in crisis, it’s important to have anchors for your soul, places where we take shelter and take our stand amidst the storm. We don’t know everything, but we do know a few things. Here we will rest and trust. Panic and fear are not helpful here. Catch your breath and steady your mind. Think about the good. Be helpful and kind to others and pray; pray for yourself and family, for your nation and world to come out of this crisis in a better place. For all the pain and loss, may there also be growth and gain. And whatever you do, don’t give up as we don’t know the end of the story.