A survey came out some years ago that said 48% of Americans felt like they didn't have enough time to pray or meditate each day. According to Pew Charitable Trust research, the U.S. is one of the most religious countries on Earth, and prayer is a very significant part of religious or spiritual practice for most people. Prayer is talking to God. Meditation is listening to what the God has to tell us.
During this pandemic, more people than ever have the time to pray, and the collective need has seldom been stronger. Prayer works.
I know that the nurse with kids out of school may not have time to pray. The emergency room doctor running out of supplies may not have time to pray. The teachers who have to figure out how to teach their courses online while taking care of an elderly parent don't have time to pray. So we need to pray for them.
Prayer does not need to be complicated or formal. It can be a quiet ongoing conversation with God throughout the day. Prayer can be reading Scripture or something spiritual instead of the news. Prayer can be noticing the spring blossoms blooming. Since you need to be home now, make your home a place where angels would love to dwell. Pick some flowers. Play music that is comforting and uplifting. Fill your home with prayer and meditation. Offer prayers of gratitude for the things you have instead of focusing on what you don't.
We need to pray for ourselves that we can stay steady and centered while living in the midst of fear and chaos. We need to pray for the safety of our families, neighbors and our communities. We need to pray especially for our healthcare workers who are on the front line of this disease. We pray that they get the covid-19 tests they need and the protective gear and equipment that they need. We pray for those who are sick and for their families. We pray for our country, for all countries, for humanity.
We also need to pray for our leaders that they guide us and support us in taking science-based actions to prevent suffering and death. And we pray for citizens to make the necessary sacrifices to protect not only themselves and their loved ones, but unseen others who are vulnerable.
A few days ago, my friend John Ray texted me to ask if we needed any eggs. He had just been to Across the Creek Farm and bought several dozen eggs to give away to neighbors. We were running low since Forest Preston, our gardener and egg supplier, is isolating at home in Newton County. We gratefully accepted John's kind offer and picked up the eggs from his front porch. We left John a small jar of honey from our bees. Both of these things felt like prayer. Little things matter a lot right now.
Judi Neal is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and is currently working on a book of essays titled Blessings. Email her at judi@edgewalkers.org.
NAN Religion on 03/28/2020