The More Important Work

       We had a chance Monday night to host a community prayer service for the four young Harrison High School women devastated by an ATV/Jeep accident Sunday evening.  Lisa's very warm heart and confidence in her church's compassion; Dana and Pat's willingness to rearrange important commitments; Katie and Luann's readiness to share their gifts; Mike & Cathy's 'whatever it takes' attitude--plus the love of many friends and acquaintances made for a sacred moment in our sanctuary.  It was humbling to be a part of it.
      I realized for a moment how flimsy my seminary theological training really was when someone shared about Maya's dire condition.  What the doctors were seeing and what the tests were showing just shouted bad news.  And inside my belly there came a fire that said, "If that were my daughter I wouldn't for a second give up.  I wouldn't listen.  I would ignore the science and go with my God--who is after all a God of second chances and unscripted surprises."  Even though I have never met Maya I started praying for her like she was my daughter.  I started praying that God do the right thing, even if that right thing wasn't necessarily medically indicated; even if it wasn't necessarily God's will; even if somehow it wasn't necessarily even the 'right thing'.  Sometimes you want what you want and you want it so badly you just don't care about doctrine or medicine or common sense.
    I know that whatever you ask for you are supposed to end it with, "Not my will, but Yours be done."  I know all about God's agency, human frailty, and the mystery of theodicy--but none of that would enter the picture if it were my daughter.  Mine would be a prayer of uncompromising certainty and non-negotiable willfulness.  It would probably be some kind of heresy but it would be honest and it would be directed to a God who can handle all the heresy I can dish out.
     A lot of the time if we can't do something to change a situation, if we can't affect or influence the outcome, we say to ourselves, "Well, at least I can pray."  Or we say, "The best we can do is pray."  Or we shrug our shoulders resignedly and say, "I'll give prayer a shot."  We act as if action were the important work and prayer a weak least acceptable option.  But I strongly disagree.  I think it is the most important work we do as God's children.
    Don't take my word for it.  Go back and take note of a day in the life of Jesus.  He starts it in prayer, as life interrupts him he handles it with prayer.  The more demanding his schedule the harder he works to get alone in prayer.  And he never misses an opportunity to gather with God's people as they share in prayer.  For Jesus prayer was not an after thought.  For Jesus prayer was his lifeline to God and the fuel for his interactions with others.
    The prayer service Monday night just reminded me how life changing it is to be able to talk, grapple, thank, cajole, beg, celebrate, and listen to the One who holds us and our world in the palm of His hand.  It is not plan B or C or D.  Prayer is and always has been plan A for life lived in the presence of God.  And I, for one, will do everything I can not to take it for granted.