Such a lost art prayer is. In this day of free thinkers and religious abomination have we decided that it plays no part in our lives? After all if it is only by a chemical explosion that we even exist, to whom are we even talking to when we bow our heads at night? Have we boycotted prayer in the name of self reliance and feel it is only those who do not believe in themselves that need something as co dependent as prayer? Has religion left such a bad taste in our mouth that we now associate our connection to any sort of God to be perverse and unnatural? Have we suffered so much hurt and disappointment in our lives to make us believe that there could not possibly be such a cruel and callous deity.
Prayer according to Webster is “a petition to God or a god in word or thought”. As well as “an earnest request or wish”. Well what if I don’t believe in a “God”? Does this mean I am not deserved of granted wishes? Are miracles only afforded to those who beg on bended knee? Or is the fact that the actual definition of God is a “spirit or being who can affect the lives of others” proof that anything in this Universe could be my God? If a spirit is just energy, wouldn’t I as an energetic spiritual being be able to assign that energy to anything I consider a powerful force in my life? Even if it is myself? Could it be the trees and the rivers and the mountains? Could it be the sun and the moon and the stars? Could it be Jesus? Could it be whatever it is I find my strength and fortitude in? Because when I pray I create an energy that connects to a source that no matter what we want to call it, in the end is the same. So does it matter?
In the big debate of Science vs. Creation have we lost sight of what is important? Not who is right or wrong, but that we are all connected in our miniscule existence and perhaps we should be praying for one another. For it is in prayer that we let go, express gratitude, feel compassion, lessen our burden and receive love. If you prefer to call it by any other name it does not change the power it holds, so do what feels comfortable for you and not what someone else has told you. It is through prayer we connect to our source, and it is through humble petitions and silent reflection that we receive the answers we are searching for, which have always been inside us anyway. Weird.
Olivia Robie 