Prayer: Not a sign of Lunacy

  

We humans are truly difficult to understand. At times.

In one vein, everybody tells us to pray always, regardless of the result or whether or not our pleas are answered.  We should never relent with prayers.

But in another vein, we are told that doing the same things over and over again expecting different results is a sign of lunacy.

Is there any logical explanation to this apparent contradiction? There certainly is.  And both sayings are justifiably true. You see, the act of prayer is more than just the motions associated with it. It includes all the resolutions to action that accompany it as a natural consequence.

Going back to the Ignatian definition of prayer:  Pray like everything depended on God, but act on it like everything depended on you.

Therefore, inextricably intertwined with it are the host of actions we resolve to do so our prayers can come to fruition. And thus, if our prayers are not initially fulfilled or answered, we pray again and this time with another host of resolutions to guarantee our pleas are answered.

Therefore, our prayers are not simply repetitions, but each time, unique and different in its own ways.

Many of us do forget how we ought to pray efficaciously, and thus, court the mockery of others who dismiss our praying as simply either a fool's errand, or the protestations of a crazy person.

This because we limit our interpretation of praying to the words we express in our supplications as we lay prostate either in solitude or in church. We mouth the same formulaic verses, and repeat them countless times like in the rosary and the litanies, and after that we wait for any response. No doubt others feel justified in their criticism.

So remember prayer does not end with pious words said in solemn moments. As we learn in the Morning Prayer taught us in school. When we pray we also offer not only prayers, but all "works, joys, and suffering" we go through each day.

Thus each time, our prayer becomes one unique, fresh, and distinct plea to our Creator for his assistance and grace..