"Pray for Phil" is the headline of the morning paper because a beloved cricketer has been injured and the double page spread has it as the banner across the top. At other times we have been exhorted to 'pray for our boys' when they are fighting fires or in some other emergencies.
It makes me wonder what this means. Do they expect people for whom prayer is not a part of life to suddenly discover its power and sense of connection? How is it than in our increasingly secular society prayer is seen as needed in a time of crisis?
Yesterday it was announced that a well known football personality is battling with a health issue. It was not suggested we pray for him. Why not? Can we only pray for one person at a time or is it because his situation isn't seen as so dire. Another footballer commenting said that he'd relied on the strength of the club when facing heath problems 'because there was no better place to go for help'. Camaraderie is wonderful in such places, I'm sure.
So what about prayer? A last resort, a reaching out for something more beyond ourselves or just a way to express the seriousness of a situation that is so bad only prayer (or good luck?) will help.
Comments alongside the article feature 'thoughts and prayers' as though they are the same thing, and one mention of fingers crossed. So in this context the urge to pray is more about good wishes and intentions and hopefulness.
For me prayer is a deep connecting with the Divine One who walks with me day by day, the Companion of life's journey, such that prayer is as natural as breathing and sustains me daily. It's so much more than crying out in desperation, but maybe that headline will be the start of something wonderful for those who heed its call.
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