- A thousand people sit
- Looking at the back of the head
before them
- The building ornate with
sculptures
- Stained glass all around
- Watching as a man in a robe talks
- Looking up or looking down
- Solemn words in solemn tones
- He pronounces a dignified and
reverent “Amen”
- The crowd of individuals file out
- They call that “prayer”
- And heaven weeps
-
- A hundred people kneel
- Looking at the back of the head
before them
- The building austere
- Windows covered, no one seeing in
or out
- Watching those around them
- All kneel with their foreheads to
the ground
- On special rugs for this special
act
- Several times each day
- Repeating special words they’ve
been taught
- By men who are “holy.”
- After the final bow, the crowd of
individuals file out
- They call that “prayer”
- And heaven weeps
-
- A community gathering is called
- A special need has arisen
- Varied people from varied walks
of life
- The building used for assorted
occasions
- A woman walks to the music stand
- Unfolds a piece of paper at the
proper time
- Where her name is printed beside
the word “invocation”
- Asking the group to stand and bow
their heads
- (it’s the way these things are
done here)
- She puts words to voice
- Far away, very old, very formal
- Obvious by what she says
- At the end the crowd joins in
- Repeating words from the Bible
starting with “Our Father”
- After the final amen, the crowd
of individuals file out
- They call that “prayer”
- And heaven weeps
-
- A family gathers around a browned
bird
- Pumpkin pies, cranberries and
stuffing
- The event of autumn
- For family members far and near
- Anxious to glutton themselves
- But obligated to pause to “give
thanks”
- Grandfather voices words to One
he barely knows
- Hesitating not to speak with Him
- Pressured by those around the
table
- Who also have not spoken to Him
- Except in emergencies and wants
- The stiff words are completed
- All say amen and dig in
- They call that “prayer”
- And heaven weeps.
-
- A young boy misses his dad
- Called to defend his family and
country
- In a place far away
- With a name he can’t pronounce
- Tears running down his cheeks
- Hidden in the darkness
- The little one pleads out
- “God, if You can see my daddy
- From where you’re sitting
- Please put your arms around him
- Like he does when I’m scared
- And make him invincible like
Superman.”
- From beside him shines a smile
- Heaven calls that “prayer” …and
responds
-
- A small group of believers
- Gather in a small house because
they care
- One reads from a well worn black
book
- As if reading a letter from an
familiar hand
- Another leads in a song sung in
several keys
- Very little talent, but very deep
passion
- As if sung in honor of a intimate
friend
- They pause, speak in turn to that
One
- In deep conversation that brings
- Tears and laughter and peace
- From within the circle shines a
Smile
- Heaven calls that “prayer” …and
responds
-
- A runaway truck
- A minivan full of family
- A country road on a rainy day
- A squeal of tires
- A cry from front seat and back
- “God! help us!”
- Heaven calls that “prayer” …and
responds
-
- An old man in tattered clothes
- Beaten hat, beaten eyes
- Softly enters a very old church
- When no one is around to look
down their nose
- He lights a candle, lays coin in
a cup, kneels at a rail
- Whispers words that only One can
hear
- Words of desperation, of
repentance, of sorrow
- He rises to return to his
cardboard house
- His life changed only on the
inside
- Meeting eternity tomorrow alone
but for the angels unseen
- Heaven calls that “prayer” …and
responds
-
- A noisy office filled with people
going
- All directions for all reasons in
all hurry
- Telephones ringing, copiers
copying,
- Fax machines faxing, doors
banging,
- Conversations from every corner
- Rats running the human race
- At the desk in the back with the
worn chair
- Beside no windows and free of
doors
- A man puts his hand on the
shoulder of another
- Without bowing his head or
closing his eyes
- In the middle of the cacophony of
the race for success
- He asks for One beyond all the
mess to reach out
- Into the life of his friend and
fails to say amen
- From between the two One smiles
- Heaven calls that “prayer” …and
responds
-
- Much of what the human race
calls “prayers” are simply
- Sounds uttered by human tongues
without passion
- Touching not the One prayer is
intended for
- Done for the benefit of humans
- Out of duty, ritual, tradition
and rote
- The One is not touched
- Power is not moved
- Heaven weeps
- And earthlings miss their
destiny
-
- The words of the sincere who
speak out
- With intensity, deep need, deep
love
- Touch the heart of the One who
hears
- Who loves and answers and
- Cares and makes a difference
- In lives and eternity
- Not because they speak
- But because they lean on Him in
deep friendship
- The One is touched
- Power is moved
- Heaven is rapturous
- And earthlings experience their
destiny
"He said to them, "You are the ones who justify
yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued
among men is detestable in God's sight." Luke 16:15 (NIV)
