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

 

[Kathy in Alaska]

No words necessary, El Gran...a picture worth a 1000 words.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh my....a front row seat for the not so bright......

[BykrBayb]

Yeah, I sit out front with a bag of popcorn, and a bag of rags. They all think they can just dry off under the hood, and it will start running again. I've tried telling them, but they don't believe me. So I give them a dry rag, and munch popcorn until they figure it out.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Welcome Troops, Veterans, Families, and Allies!
God Bless You and Keep You Safe.

Ricky Van Shelton ~ Just As I Am

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Kathy. How's it going?

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your contuined service to our country.

[E.G.C.]

good morning, Tonk. How's it going?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS)) All is well. A nice day off, and another coming. Did you have a good Saturday....Bo get out to the lake?

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Pusterfuss]

Good Sunday morning Kathy.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Pusterfuss...((HUGS))...are you getting a long Labor Day weekend? Any rain yet?

[Pusterfuss]

...are you getting a long Labor Day weekend? Any rain yet?

We are having a good week-end. We went to the local AA baseball game and watched our team win the Northern Division championship on Friday. Very light rain -- perhaps about a tenth of an inch. How's Alaska?

[E.G.C.]

We had a great Saturday. Both OUu and OSU won their games last night.

No, we didn't take Bo out to the lake. It was too wet. We did need the rain though.

[E.G.C.]

Morning coffee bump.

[Kathy in Alaska]

RAIN????? Hurrah for you!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

That sounds like a fun day. Sunny most of the day, and I had the day off. d:o)

[Kathy in Alaska]

God bless and keep safe our troops worldwide.

Good night.

Statler Brothers ~ How Great Thou Art

[Soaring Feather]

Psalm 121

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

King James Version

[SoldierDad]

This brought tears to my eyes. I thank you and God Bless.

[SoldierDad]

Is there a way to obtain this graphic? I really like this.

[MozartLover]