I’m still praying for the two year old boy who was being beaten by his dad in front of the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence a couple of weeks ago. I’m also praying for the disturbed dad and the entire family, and for all families experiencing this kind of abuse. I am home, now; I have been for a week; the prayers continue.
Naturally, prayer is not practical, it is absurd; we have to realize that prayer is stupid from the ordinary common-sense point of view.
This comment by Oswald Chambers, that I posted today, challenges me as I pray. I can easily pray for this son and his dad; we can find general agreement that God does not want that kind of abuse. But what about other prayers in which right and wrong is not as clear? Some are wishes that seem selfish, and certainly ones that never get close to God.
For example, it is absurd to pray that the Red Sox win the World Series. In Roman 2:11 Paul tells us that God shows no partiality. Surely that must include a favorite baseball team.
But what about praying that a player do his best? But if I pray only for my team players, what about the other team? Is it different when individual players pray to do their best or thank God after a hitting a home run? I pray to do my best because I believe God wants that of me.
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