When is it Time to Pray?
Morning, Noon, or Night
Do you have a specific time of day that you pray? Do you pray every day or just once in a while? Is there a special place for you, or can you slip into a quiet spot anywhere, even if you are in line at the post office with folks all around you and the long line just inching along?
Or maybe you don’t pray at all. What if you don’t believe in God? People would say, “Well, God believes in you.” Even though I believe in God, that doesn’t sit well with me. The God I believe in now is definitely not the same God I grew up with. This one I can argue with. I like that. Also, sometimes I say bad words, but that is just because I sometimes have a potty mouth. Which I sometimes work on, but other times not.
I asked my husband if he prayed, and he said yes. I asked him if he prayed the standard prayers like the Our Father and the Hail Mary. He said yes. Sometimes, he is not very talkative, but he told me HP. I asked him who HP was. He said Higher Power. That’s what they call God in AA, which is Alcoholics Anonymous.
Growing up, prayer was reserved for us kids just before we went to sleep. These would be the prayers I learned as a child. Now, prayer is more of a conversation, although I still find comfort in a regular prayer. Now, it is anytime. It might not be every day; sometimes, it is several times during the course of a day that I pray. It just depends. On what, I can’t tell you.
One of my brothers used to go to his backyard after work and talk to God. His hope was that he might someday become a minister. Maybe next time.
I pray by myself these days. I know a lot of people like to go to church, but I’ve been a loner for many years.
As I get older, more and more of the people I know are also getting older, and most of us are beginning to suffer from health-related issues. The getting older thing, I have discovered, is sort of sucky at times.
Some people I know are going through very scary illnesses now, like breast cancer. They are faced with lots of medicine, chemotherapy, cutting off their hair, and then watching what little of it is left to fall out. They feel sick. They are angry. They are frightened. Their families are frightened.
With the worldview I hold now, I don’t hold out much hope for miracles. But I do pray for people to have hope. I pray for their comfort and pass on, as well as I can, waves of healing energy. I don’t know if it is a thing or not. It’s a combination of prayer and healing and energy modalities that don’t involve Western medicine. Does any of it work? I don’t know. I do it anyway.
I ask that God, spirit guides, and loved ones on the other side comfort the ones on their teams here on Earth. I ask for love and comfort to settle into the spots where there is room in the person’s heart.
I ask that folks who have lost their children remember special moments together. I ask that people who have lost their spouses and partners remember the good times they had. I ask that everyone, no matter their surrounding circumstances, find some memories of happiness and triumph they can briefly touch again.
I pray for myself and my husband to be brave and to continue to allow the fun of living to root deeper in us.
I ask God why. I’ve never gotten much of an answer to that one, though I know in my heart the answer is likely “Just because.”
So, just because I will extend to my family at Medium, to my fellow writers and readers best wishes during the holiday and will include you in a group hug and heartfelt thanks just because.
Our animals who have passed on wish to be included in this group hug and this article. You don’t have to say woof or meow. Just know they are in a good place and haven’t forgotten you.
Love to you this holiday season.