Notes From Day Seven: I'll say a little prayer for you
“Pray for us,” requested a leader in the
Philippines on the CBC talking about
Typhoon Haiyan. No one knew, at that
moment, how many people had been killed
or would die in the days to come. The 200-
plus kilometre-an-hour winds and storm
surges of up to six metres had taken many
lives and left many in danger. “Pray for us.”
That was his parting request.
Prayer is not always on display in public. In a time when secular points of view receive a lot of attention, reporters focus more on requests to the military to send transport planes full of medical supplies than on requests to God to help alleviate the suffering of typhoon victims. That's understandable. It seems easier to focus on what can be seen and heard rather than to count a god who is not quite as visible.
Still, people everywhere seem bound and determined to ask God for help. Hospitals typically have chaplains who, among other things, pray with patients and their families. So do prisons, colleges including Fanshawe, and universities. Chaplains can be found in some airports, in many of the country's camping parks, on the streets in most Canadian cities, and in larger companies. They are present at Remembrance Day ceremonies. The village fire department across the street from where I live has its own chaplain.
Every Sunday morning London is host to hundreds of gatherings of Christians who pray for each other, the people of the city, and the world. (I realize that people who have other life-views than the Christian one pray. But I am less familiar with their practices and what they mean, so will leave comment about their understandings of prayer to others.) And with Christianity being widely practiced in the Philippines, its people are undoubtedly praying non-stop, even crying out, to God for relief, courage and strength.
We can pray, though, not only for the people of areas where disaster has struck. We can pray for many other situations that catch our attention. Think of the expense scandal that has taken up so much valuable time and energy in Ottawa. We can pray for government officials to stay away from questionable practices that break the public trust. We can also pray for a spirit of civility and honesty to grow in the halls and houses of government so that public servants become less defensive when caught doing something wrong, and the various parties critique each other without going for the throat.
It might not hurt to ask God for help with exams and assignments. I would encourage it — but not as a cheap self-serving exercise. Instead, prayers for success in college should also include a prayer that our chosen careers will help serve others and lead to a better world.
We can pray for justice for Canada's aboriginal people and for those on the streets who are homeless or mentally ill. We can pray that the number of people willing to create porn or sell drugs to youth will drop significantly.
And we can pray for people when they are down and out in a big way. Does Rob Ford deserve prayer? Do you? Do I?
But does all this praying actually help? I think the answer to that question has to be a yes. God is not deaf. And our prayers make a difference to him. The unfolding of the world's history and of each human life are somehow, mysteriously and wonderfully, affected by him. This is a source of real hope when everything appears to be failing.
It seems that we human beings have the greatest difficulty getting on top of our problems, whether they are personal, national, or trans-national.We seem to be forever caught in our own weaknesses, wrongs, and destructive patterns. Acknowledging this can be a great breakthrough. It is an opportunity to reconnect with the Source of every good thing, the Provider of strength, grace, and courage in bad times — and good ones too. So, yes, we can feel free to do as the Philippine leader asked. We should pray for the people of his country, and for lot more too.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Prayer is not always on display in public. In a time when secular points of view receive a lot of attention, reporters focus more on requests to the military to send transport planes full of medical supplies than on requests to God to help alleviate the suffering of typhoon victims. That's understandable. It seems easier to focus on what can be seen and heard rather than to count a god who is not quite as visible.
Still, people everywhere seem bound and determined to ask God for help. Hospitals typically have chaplains who, among other things, pray with patients and their families. So do prisons, colleges including Fanshawe, and universities. Chaplains can be found in some airports, in many of the country's camping parks, on the streets in most Canadian cities, and in larger companies. They are present at Remembrance Day ceremonies. The village fire department across the street from where I live has its own chaplain.
Every Sunday morning London is host to hundreds of gatherings of Christians who pray for each other, the people of the city, and the world. (I realize that people who have other life-views than the Christian one pray. But I am less familiar with their practices and what they mean, so will leave comment about their understandings of prayer to others.) And with Christianity being widely practiced in the Philippines, its people are undoubtedly praying non-stop, even crying out, to God for relief, courage and strength.
We can pray, though, not only for the people of areas where disaster has struck. We can pray for many other situations that catch our attention. Think of the expense scandal that has taken up so much valuable time and energy in Ottawa. We can pray for government officials to stay away from questionable practices that break the public trust. We can also pray for a spirit of civility and honesty to grow in the halls and houses of government so that public servants become less defensive when caught doing something wrong, and the various parties critique each other without going for the throat.
It might not hurt to ask God for help with exams and assignments. I would encourage it — but not as a cheap self-serving exercise. Instead, prayers for success in college should also include a prayer that our chosen careers will help serve others and lead to a better world.
We can pray for justice for Canada's aboriginal people and for those on the streets who are homeless or mentally ill. We can pray that the number of people willing to create porn or sell drugs to youth will drop significantly.
And we can pray for people when they are down and out in a big way. Does Rob Ford deserve prayer? Do you? Do I?
But does all this praying actually help? I think the answer to that question has to be a yes. God is not deaf. And our prayers make a difference to him. The unfolding of the world's history and of each human life are somehow, mysteriously and wonderfully, affected by him. This is a source of real hope when everything appears to be failing.
It seems that we human beings have the greatest difficulty getting on top of our problems, whether they are personal, national, or trans-national.We seem to be forever caught in our own weaknesses, wrongs, and destructive patterns. Acknowledging this can be a great breakthrough. It is an opportunity to reconnect with the Source of every good thing, the Provider of strength, grace, and courage in bad times — and good ones too. So, yes, we can feel free to do as the Philippine leader asked. We should pray for the people of his country, and for lot more too.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
