Like they prayed for Jerusalem
By Albert B. Kelly
I should be clear up front- I believe in the power of
prayer, whether it’s done on a private and individual basis or done publically
as a group. I realize that there are many different ways to pray through many
different faiths; some consider prayer in the context of meditation while
others as a form of mindfulness.
As a personal preference, I prefer the private prayer above public
because chances are good I’ll be less self-conscious in private and less apt to
“perform”- ensuring purer motives. If you slip into “performance mode” in
public prayer, it tends to lose its power and that comes with its own risks.
So why this talk about prayer; because in the days ahead, beginning
March 1st, I hope to have 7 days of prayer, nonstop, around the
clock for our community. While these 7 days of prayer will start with our
faith-based community, it’s open to any one regardless of their religion or
affiliation, or non-affiliation, who desire to participate.
Prayer for the well-being of a place and the people in it-
the community- is certainly not a new idea. If you open the scriptures, it’s full
of examples of people praying. In the Old Testament, entire psalms are devoted
to praying for the peace of Jerusalem or Israel.
While intercessory prayer is not a new idea, in today’s
data-driven climate it may be a fresh idea, but it comes with data of its own.
According to a Newsmax health piece, Dr. Harold Koenig, from Duke University,
points to no less than 1,500 reputable studies that show prayer to be effective
as it relates to healing.
An ABC 20/20 segment suggested that remote prayer; whether
from Buddhist Monks, Sufi Muslims, Fundamentalist Christians, or Orthodox Jews,
has been shown to be effective in helping recovery times in everyone from
cardiac patients to those with AIDS.
While a community is a little different than praying for a
loved one, a friend, or even a stranger- it helps to remember that a community
is made up of families and individuals and that the life of a community is a
unique thing.
As I said, I believe in the power of prayer and I believe it
can help our community- it certainly can’t hurt. There is praying for the peace
of our city. I don’t have to tell you that we’ve had our share of violence,
including gun violence, and peace is certainly a worthy petition.
I am reminded of the Psalms; “Pray for the peace of
Jerusalem…peace be within your walls, and security within your towers!” Those
of us who love our community would gladly substitute in Bridgeton. There’s also
praying for wisdom.
Often, I think of the prophet’s question; “who will have
pity on you, Jerusalem, who will mourn for you, who will stop to ask how you
are?” Considering Bridgeton in this context, if not us then who?
That’s why I’m reaching out to all the houses of worship and
to anyone who wants to participate with a request that beginning March 1st;
they select the time and day for their personal prayer for our city. The goal
is to have at least one person cover each hour, around the clock for 7 days- a
minimum of 168 people.
I am also hopeful that certain churches would, as a group,
select a day for their church to pray for the Bridgeton community; whether for
peace, prosperity, healing where it’s needed, wisdom for those of us in
leadership positions, or opportunity for those who lack.
This is not a double-blind study with a control group so the
cynic might scoff at the idea that prayer can do anything or they might scoff
at the next negative headline that comes when all the praying is done and over
with. I can live with that, what I can’t live with is not trying.
For anyone interested in participating, please reach out to
your local house of worship and if you don’t have a place of worship, leave
your name and number and the day and time you wish to pray at the Office of the
Mayor and an organizer will follow-up.
Prayer is not something you do to avoid something else; it’s
what’s available in quiet moments, perhaps alone when the legislating is done
and the planning over. It’s what there is when the enforcing has ceased and the
warning and encouraging is silent. It’s what there is when you love a
community.