PRAYER
The desire for a
relationship with the Divine is strong. Who doesn�t grapple with
the mystery of life, its meaning, our place in the world, the
desire to be part of something larger than ourselves?
People of all ages and
from all backgrounds and circumstances pray, formally and
informally, alone or in groups. If you look, you�ll notice
prayers all around.
In a city, you might see
an Orthodox Jew on a train davening (Praying in a low voice,
often while swaying back and forth) while next to him a Latina
reads from her religious tract. Or a Muslim finds a quiet spot
to prepare for the salat (a brief formal worship service), one
of the five times he�ll pray each day.
Prayer also plays a part
in life in ways not always obvious to an outside observer. One
shopper, irritated while waiting in line, prays for patience.
Another person uses dish-washing time to express gratitude for
the day�s blessings. A doctor prays for guidance before surgery.
Prayer is essentially a
conversation with God. It can occur with or without words, in
place of worship or in the silence of your heart as you go about
your daily work.
Prayer heals because it
inspires hope, and hope changes the nature of the immune system.
�Pray as you can, not as
you can�t� is a maxim that is frequently overlooked, leading to
a lot of unrealistic expectations. Look within, and you will
find that you really can pray anywhere and everywhere.
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