September 14, 2008: Our Practices, Part Two: Engage – Michael Hidalgo

There are a million questions about prayer. Does God hear me when I pray? If God knows why should I pray? Will God do anything if I do not pray? If I pray about it and God says no, and I really wanted it can I still pray about it? On it goes. Many of the questions related to prayer have to do with the idea that prayer is something that involves us asking God for stuff. In many ways it has become a compulsory effort on our part. 

When we hear things like, “Pray without ceasing” we cannot imagine spending the rest of our lives asking for this or that. But what if prayer is simply an ongoing conversation that leads to deeper relationship with God, and with others. What if in our conversations with God we come to know not only God better, but also ourselves better?