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

chaplaincare.navy.mil/ ^ | LCDR Diane M. Wilson, CHC, USN

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

 

 

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

 

[Cindy]

Thank you Kathy.

I thought I would get in early.

I had a sink that sprang a leak last week;
kind of slowed things up for me.

Does it feel like fall there, yet?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome to the Canteen, SoldierDad, where we honor our troops, our veterans, their families, and our allies every day. We are here 24(mostly)/7/365 to provide a place for our military to stop in, pull up a chair, enjoy a joke, hear a song (requests taken), read some history, enjoy a cyber meal (no calories), hear about our families lives, join in the silliness, and just relax. And thanks to your son for his service to America.

[Kathy in Alaska]

I'm off today and tomorrow. Do we need to chat? d:o)

[STARWISE]

Yep .. today's over for me, tho .. LOL. Afternoon Sunday? Didja have a chance to run it by the Mistress of Music ? ;)

[Cindy]

I should say that slowed up my posting, lasting week. (Adding on to post no. 41.)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Not yet....they had a power issue from Ernesto. I'll FReepmail you when I'm up and coherent.

[Kathy in Alaska]

No hints of fall yet....it finally stopped raining and we've been seeing some sun. Days are definitely getting shorter tho.

[Cindy]

Enjoy these sunny days, memories for winter ahead.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Memories indeed. d:o)

[Cindy]

Smiling...

(The snow plow is still in the barn. Thank You God. Amen.)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Tonkin, for posting Sunday Chapel. And thanks, LCDR Diane M. Wilson, for today's lesson.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Yes, snow blower in the shed, safely tucked away for some more months.

[Cindy]

Amen.
(Grinning broadly.)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Robert, for your service to America.
Prayers for your safety and success of mission.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good Lord's Day, MM.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mayor, for today's sustenance for body and soul.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy Lord's Day, Susannah, and thanks for the video links.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Happy Lord's Day, Bykr....any problems with Ernesto and his wind and rain?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Hope, for today's Pledge. Thanks, AfghanMan and Penguin Girl, for your service to America.

[BykrBayb]

No, just the flooding. I haven't actually had any problems with the flooding. I've been watching the problems other people have with it. Seems they can't figure out that 5 seconds of awesome rooster tail is not worth a blown motor. The cars are piling up out front. LOL