FReeper Canteen ~ Guest Military Chaplain ~ AN ODD WAY TO PRAY ~ SEP 03 2006

AN ODD WAY TO PRAY

Over the years I have heard a multitude of spoken prayers. Some flowed poetically from the speaker's tongue, some had the overtones of a sermon, and others resembled conversation. I have also heard another type of prayer, though never in a church or chapel. Its usage is universal in the English language, even being used on occasion by atheists. The prayer is most often spoken during times of anger, frustration, or used to display extreme displeasure with a given situation or individual. The vast majority of the English-speaking population would not recognize it as a form of prayer, but rather view it as a form of swearing. Some would regard the invocation as "taking God's name in vain." Both are true and credible; however, at the core of the expression is a request by the petitioner for God to damn something, someone or some place. Several years ago, while stationed on Okinawa, I joined my battalion for a "best ball" golf tournament. My foursome was composed of individuals I had played with often, so I was somewhat aware of how our day might develop. One individual, who usually played an outstanding round of golf, was having a horrendous day on the course. Nothing was going right. His whole game was off, and he knew it, and continuously reminded the rest of us about it. On our seventh hole of play, and after overshooting the green, he threw his club as far as he could hurl it and exclaimed for the umpteenth time: "God !#%! It!" I walked over to my friend and said, "You know God is just answering your prayer." He looked at me somewhat puzzled, and as if I were insane. I reminded him that since our first hole of play he asked God to damn his club, damn his ball, damn the green, and even damn his shoes. So why be upset? God was simply answering his prayer. When I concluded, he looked at me and said, "Chaplain, I like that and you're right. It hurts, but you're right." For the rest of the day, neither the others nor I heard another request for God to damn anything. (Though he did bite his lip an awful lot.) As I mentioned earlier, most individuals recognize this prayer more in line with the idea of swearing. However, I think there is a valid case to recognize it as a prayer. That being so, it is bewildering why people would pray it. Could it be that they are not aware of what they are saying or of its significance? Or do they really want God to damn the one they love,
their friends, work associates, or acquaintances?

As with my friend, the idea of the invocation being a prayer never occurred to him, nor does it to most. Little do we realize the spiritual dynamic that is set in motion when we invoke God with our request. It is to our advantage that God is all-knowing and understanding, and sorts through our trivialization of prayer, and does not do all that we request of Him. It would be well for each of us to remember the words of Jesus:
"You do not know for what you ask."

LCDR Diane M. Wilson, CHC, USN

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

The Psalms
23

The LORD Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters. Rev. 7.17

3 He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

21 posted on 09/02/2006 6:08:27 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (The Internet is the samizdat of liberty..)

To: txradioguy; sxytxredhead73

22 posted on 09/02/2006 6:13:25 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

To: Kathy in Alaska

No....he flew on way past us!
I would have welcomed some of that wet stuff though.
We are dry.
Although we did get some rain the last week of August. But not near enough.
Our water table is very low. Last I heard, 15 inches.
But that was at the first part of July. We've had very hot temps and then no rain.
So the table may be lower by now.

23 posted on 09/02/2006 6:14:08 PM PDT by LadyPilgrim (Sealed my Pardon with HIS BLOOD!!! Hallelujah!!! What a Savior)

Jeez....you do need some of that wet stuff.

24 posted on 09/02/2006 6:27:23 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Prayers for all our soldiers and their
families, loved ones and supporters.

25 posted on 09/02/2006 6:27:27 PM PDT by Lady Jag (People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid.)

Beautiful, Lady J......been thinking about you....rain/storm report.

26 posted on 09/02/2006 6:34:34 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

27 posted on 09/02/2006 6:34:56 PM PDT by Susannah (thank the troops -> www.letssaythanks.com)

To: Kathy in Alaska

28 posted on 09/02/2006 6:41:47 PM PDT by BykrBayb ("We will not be silent. We are your bad conscience. The White Rose will give you no rest." Þ)

To: Susannah; All

The best damn troops, vets, & military families in the world ~~ Thank You!

29 posted on 09/02/2006 6:42:58 PM PDT by STARWISE (They (Rats) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)

30 posted on 09/02/2006 6:45:42 PM PDT by STARWISE (They (Rats) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)

Hello SoldierDad . . . You have FReepmail.

31 posted on 09/02/2006 6:59:32 PM PDT by HopeandGlory (Hey, Liberals . . . PC died on 9/11 . . . GET USED TO IT!!!)

"My Sweet Lord", by George Harrison, is an ode to Krishna and Vishnu, both of whom are Hindu "gods" and the objects of Harrison's veneration. As he was well-noted for being a follower of several Indian gurus (and Hindu idols) during his lifetime, Harrison is now gently weeping in Hell, along with his guitar.

32 posted on 09/02/2006 7:51:59 PM PDT by Marechal (In Ulcisci, Fidelitas)

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

33 posted on 09/02/2006 7:52:43 PM PDT by El Gran Salseron (The FR Canteen's World Famous Resident Equal Opportunity Male Chauvinist Pig! Got it? :-))

To: Kathy in Alaska

Rain should come late tonight and last through tomorrow is what I last heard. Fortunately, I heard it's not expected to last beyond tomorrow. Yesterday they wondered if it'd rain one day or five.

I trust your rain finally stopped.

34 posted on 09/02/2006 8:15:11 PM PDT by Lady Jag (People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid.)

Our rain has pretty much stopped for a few days anyway. Who knows what the morrow will bring. Glad to hear yours should be short lived.

35 posted on 09/02/2006 9:19:15 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

Good evening, STAR.....any weather issues for you from Ernesto?

36 posted on 09/02/2006 9:30:20 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

Good Lord's Day, Cindy. Thanks for the links.

37 posted on 09/02/2006 9:32:38 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

38 posted on 09/02/2006 9:33:55 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

To: Kathy in Alaska

No .. beautiful day in Chicago .. how's your weather? Plans for the weekend? (besides work .. ;)

39 posted on 09/02/2006 9:37:26 PM PDT by STARWISE (They (Rats) think of this WOT as Bush's war, not America's war-RichardMiniter, respected OBL author)

To: TASMANIANRED

The Psalms 23....thanks, Taz....it is such a comfort to so many.

40 posted on 09/02/2006 9:38:32 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ God Bless and Protect Our Brave Protectors of Freedom~)

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