Well, my last post was on a book I read long ago about prayer. This post is about a book on prayer I have not even finished. It’s called Praying For Strangers-An Adventure of the Human Spirit by River Jordan.
The book is a memoir about a year in which the author resolves to pray for one stranger every day. Of course, we all sometimes pray for strangers … someone we heard about on the news, the relative or friend of a friend, etc.. River’s resolution went beyond this. She prayed, for the most part, for someone she actually saw and felt drawn to. When possible she spoke to the person, telling them about her resolution and saying “you’re my stranger for today.” She asked if they had anything special they would like her to pray for, if not, she told them she was praying that they would be blessed, that their day would be good.
She often found it inconvenient, but realized it made her take time during her daily activity and errands to speak to someone and really listen to them. She found out that almost everybody needs prayers. Some of the people she felt called to pray for didn’t seem to be likely candidates … a nurse in the ER instead of one of the patients; the young girl who looked “perfect” in her stylish clothes and make up, an attractive middle-aged lady getting out of an expensive car. Yet often, the person chose had a very specific prayer need. River was hugged, often thanked, occasionally the person asked to pray for her as well, once or twice the person didn’t respond or want to accept her prayers.
She says,
Am I learning to trust myself? No But I’m learning to trust something greater than myself. The offering of a prayer to heal and mend people is like the smallest offering in a sea, like one gold coin dropped in a plate. But my willingness to do this, my faith to do this, makes things right in spite of myself. There are no right people or wrong people to pray for. We all need it. This big old beautiful, tired, worn world is full of souls hungry for prayer.
So how about it? Will you try praying for a stranger every day? How would you feel if a stranger told you they were praying for you?
Lutheran Ladies Connection 