Some questions have simple answers. If a man speaks in a forest and there is no woman to hear him, is he still wrong? (Well, duh!) If evolution is true, why is it that mothers still have only one pair of hands? (Uh … Darwin’s mom hired a live-in nanny?) Why don’t some people realize that a hearse is poor transportation for their first visit to church? (Because they don’t believe that hell is for real?) Why do we say we believe in miracles when we don’t rely on them? (Hmm … that’s actually a good question.)
Some questions have not so simple answers. Why do three out of four people have problems with fractions? (They slept through half of their high school math classes?) Why is “abbreviated” such a long word? (Any linguists out there?) Why is it that the mere mention of the word “exercise” makes us wish we could wash out our mouths with chocolate? (Because “exercise” should be a four-letter word — “work!”)
Some questions have obvious answers. Like, why do buffalo wings taste like chicken? Why do we have to wash our hands so often? Is this the part when I smile and nod and act like I’m listening?
Other questions have more complex answers. Like, why is it so hard to pray for others? Scholars and theologians and people much smarter than I have debated and preached and taught about prayer for centuries. They’ve told us how to pray, when to pray, what to pray, why to pray. But still, why is it so hard to pray?
I don’t even pretend to be smart, but I think I’ve come up with a few reasons why it’s so hard to pray for others like we should. First, our prayers for others are sometimes nothing more than lip service. When we first begin our prayers for others, we say a quick, “Lord be with her,” or “Lord, protect him.” We don’t take the time to stand in the gap for others, praying for their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. After our initial meager prayers, our lives get in the way and our prayers stop.
We might not pray the way we ought because we don’t believe God will answer our prayers, especially the way we want Him to. And we might not pray because we are selfish in our prayers. We are praying with our mouths, but our hearts are saying, “God, change this person so that things will go easier for me. Make this person easier to love, easier to work with, easier to be around so that things will be easier for me to deal with.”
All I really know about it all is this: when we find we’re not praying for others the way Scriptures teach, when our prayers are nothing more than mere words we’ve strung together, when praying has become something we have to do rather than something we want to do, the problem is not prayer. The problem is us.
The answer really is that simple.
Verna Davis, speaker and writer, maybe reached at VrdSpeaks@yahoo.com.
Religion
JOY LADY: The problem may not be prayer; it may be us
- Religion
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The Joy Lady: What kind of promises does a God like ours deserve?
I should have known better. I did everything I could to make sure it didn’t happen, but it did anyway. I trusted someone — and when that someone didn’t do as promised, I was disappointed. I felt betrayed. How dare they not do what they said they would do?
- Church briefs: June 15, 2013
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Sister Jeanne Knoerle, former president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, has died
Sister Jeanne Knoerle, former president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, died early this morning at her home in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, it is being reported on the Sisters of Providence Facebook site.
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A night of prayer
The Sisters of Providence invite the public to another Taizé prayer event at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods to reflect on the joys and wonders of the river through prayer at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: June 8, 2013
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THE JOY LADY: Pull your wheels out of the Sunday morning rut
Go about five miles west of Guernsey, Wy., and you might fall into some ruts. During the Oregon Trail years, so many wagons traveled through the soft sandstone there that deep ruts were formed—some as deep as four to six feet.
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‘Prayer Warrior Mom’ author at Open Door Bookstore June 3
Author and speaker Marla Alupoaicei will sign copies of her new book “Prayer Warrior Mom” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, June 3, in The Open Door Christian Bookstore at 3125 S. Third Place, behind Honey Creek Mall.
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THE JOY LADY: Because Vacation Bible School is that important!
It’s that time of year again — Vacation Bible School time. Frazzled VBS directors are begging for teachers, song leaders and kitchen helpers. For VBS directors everywhere, let me offer some words of truth and encouragement.
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‘The Conscience Monologues’ at St. Mary-of-the-Woods
There is something moving and powerful in hearing a woman recount her story of faith and courage in today’s world. Plan now to attend a dramatic telling of more than 10 such stories during “The Conscience Monologues: Women’s Stories of Conscience within the Catholic Church” from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. June 22 in Reilly Auditorium, Owens Hall, at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: June 1, 2013
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South Vigo Congregational Christian plans memorial service
The South Vigo Congregational Christian Church and the South Vigo Cemetery will stage an annual memorial service at 2 p.m. on June 2 in the church at 6499 Darwin Road, West Terre Haute.
The public is invited to attend and share a poem, song or other sentiment. - RELIGION BRIEFS: May 24, 2013
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Get in touch with prayer at Body Prayer workshop
Could your prayer life use some invigorating? If so, the Body Prayer workshop offered by White Violet Center for Eco-Justice at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence, may be for you.
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THE JOY LADY: We are not in charge. God is. Get over it, already.
If I were in charge of the world, I would run things a bit differently.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: May 25, 2013
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Cross Lane Church accepting shoe donations
Terre Haute residents are invited to donate their shoes to help millions of peopleworldwide with a shoe drive at Cross Lane Community Church on June 2.
- Church briefs: May 18, 2013
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The Joy Lady: A good morning: everything that rises must converge
Last Monday, I had a good morning.
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Unity Presbyterian plans retirement open house
The congregation of Unity Presbyterian Church will stage a retirement celebration open house to honor the church’s pastor, Linda Jo Peters, from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 19 at 1207 E. Springhill Drive.
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Organist will be the featured guest at church
Organist Benjamin Kolodziej will be the featured guest at an organ recital at 4 p.m. on May 19 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 645 Poplar St.
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THE JOY LADY: Call your mom; tell her you love her, that you miss her
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution proclaiming “the second Sunday in May to be hereafter known as ‘Mother’s Day.’”
- CHURCH BRIEFS: May 11, 2013
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Celebrate the women in your life with The Living Rosary
On Friday, May 10, join the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods for The Living Rosary and experience the grace and power many people have discovered by “praying by hand.”
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THE JOY LADY: When awe leaves us, we leave room for doubt
In any given gathering of grade-schoolers or even a gaggle of teenagers, in all likelihood, you will hear certain words over and over:
- CHURCH BRIEFS: May 4, 2013
- RELIGION BRIEFS: May 4, 2013
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Good Friday service today at St. George Orthodox
St. George Orthodox Church at 1900 S. Fourth St., Terre Haute, will celebrate its Good Friday service at 7 p.m. today (May 3) and its Easter service at 9 p.m. Saturday. The Agape (Love) service will be conducted at noon on Sunday.
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Organist’s concert May 5
Organist Jonathan Rudy will be in concert performing works from the 1600’s to the present day at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Central Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Seventh St.
The concert is free and open to the public. -
THE JOY LADY: Christ is coming again. Are you ready for that?
An older couple had a grandfather clock that announced each hour with the ringing of chimes.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: April 27, 2013
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