08/22/2019
This is from our friend PJ. Worth a read! We’ll see him on November 2! (That’s right, this is the concert announcement everyone has been waiting for!)
“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵...”
I was flipping through pictures from our amazing summer in Rome and came across this photo of my 8 year old son praying on his knees. It melted my heart then and now. Hand folded. Head bowed. Knees bent. Heart open. 𝘜𝘯𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥
I find it fitting that I found this photo the day after I had a conversation with a friend about prayer. We were discussing a mutual friend who entered the monastery to become a monk. His daily routine is basically:
3-6a - 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘺
6-7a Breakfast
7-10a - Chores
10a-12p - 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘺
12p-1p - Lunch
1-3p - 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘺
3-6p - 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘺
6-7p - Dinner
7-9p - 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘺
9p - Sleep
3a-6a - 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘺
Now, I might have those exact times off by a little bit. But the point is, most of the day is spent in prayer. Quietly. Communally. Privately. Sung. Recited. Chanted. Unprovoked. Written. Spontaneous. Prayer.
The question came up about this particular person entering the monastery. “You are young and cool and dynamic. Couldn’t you serve people better by teaching, speaking, traveling and spreading the Lord’s message.” His response was sobering to me.
“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵...”
I believe prayer works. Yes, sometimes it is hard to believe that it does. Or it’s easy to think that time could be better spent. But I believe that it works. I have seen it in my life and others lives. There is power in prayer and there is power in numbers. If you don’t mind, please keep a few of my people in your prayers as they need healing. I’d rather not share names at this moment, but just pray for healing please.
Please share in the comments below what you’d like 𝘜𝘚 to pray for.
