Chad Brooks

To sick to pray is possibly one of the best willie nelson songs anywhere (covered here by Phosphorescent).  It reflects the journey of someone that is finding every reason to not pray, knowing that it is something that is desperately needed.  Perhaps those who are not “close” to God pray more than they do anything else that puts them in relationship with God.  This song expresses the tide of emotions that often run through our head as we are trying to sort out spirituality.

Once someone “becomes” a Christian, I think that pray then turns by the wayside.  We allow our more religious side to take charge.  We help others, join Bible studies, listen to worship music, and become fans of (sometimes Rock Star) preachers.  Pray is relegated to meals, before bed and something we do in the shower to not think bad thoughts.

If I think back to times in my life where I had thriving spiritual relationship and practice, prayer was right alongside of it.  I prayed with others, by myself, and engendered a lifestyle of constant prayer.  Sadly, I am in a time right now where prayer has slipped.

Reading in Mk 9 yesterday I noticed where the disciples where unable to heal someone, and Jesus strikingly told them it was due to their prayer life.  This is the same chapter as the transfiguration, and prayer is only mentioned in 9:29.  I didn’t have the time for a concentrated study, but I am coming back to it…because there has to be something important.  This last semester in a class on the gospel of John our teacher, Dr. Joe Dongell, repeatedly told us about the importance of prayer and how Jesus’ prayer life with the Father is an example that we all must follow.

I have spent the last few weeks really thinking about prayer alot, and what prayer means for a community.  Asking myself questions, writing down thoughts…that kind of stuff.  I want to find a way to put prayer in the  permanent status bar.  It becomes something that individuals and communities of Jesus do.

So I am starting to think that prayer is more important than a really good Willie Nelson tune……