My prayer list is long. That is not unusual.
A reflection by Danny N. Schweers for September 8, 2024.
A wife’s colon cancer. A mother’s death. A wife’s death. A husband’s death. A husband’s ruptured gall bladder on top of his cancer. A daughter’s arm amputated because of intravenous drug use. Friends and neighbors using canes, walkers, wheelchairs, or confined to a care facility, one with dementia. Knee surgery, hip surgery, shoulder surgery. Kidney stones. A nephew up on drug charges. If you listen to people, if they are willing to share, your list gets long. Nothing unusual there!
For me, what is significant about keeping a list is that it shows something of a change in my life after I broke my hand in January. People asked me how I was doing. They listened. In return, I have been listening to people, making more of an effort to get to know them and their concerns and, by listing them, I make an effort to remember. Listing and listening.
I tell people I will pray for them.
I say, “I’ll add you to my prayer list.” That is easy to say and easy to do. It does not amount too much, not on my part. I do not go over the list every day in prayer. I do not tick off the names one by one as I wrestle with God. Perhaps I should. Christians are supposed to be persistent in prayer, to pester God until our prayers are answered. Not Me. My prayers are neither fervent nor persistent. They are more like memos to God, sent heavenwards. I leave it to God. God has the power, not me.
That’s not quite right. My prayer list is more like a historical record of the people I have listened to, that I have paid attention to their concerns. It is not up to me to fix things but I can listen openly to my neighbors when they have something to say. In listening to them, their concerns are somehow blessed, as though I were listening for God. That is what seems significant — the listening — us in it together, all in the same boat. I am tempted to say that boat is listing.
When people open up to me, I feel honored.
When I can, I sympathize. I rarely offer advice. People want to know they are not alone. They want their heroism recognized. I do recognize it. Their patience and endurance is remarkable, especially as it is often accompanied by humility and humor. How blessed they are when they have both!
I hope to do as well when life’s challenges next find me. Ask me how I am doing. If I am not doing well, please listen. Add me to your list. But not just yet, thank God! I am doing well, although my doctor is concerned about my high cholesterol.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Danny chairs SsAM’s Communication Committee. He is an active photographer and writer. Click here to visit his website and make a comment.
