Pryare

When Sid asked me to talk to you all today, I was honoured. Not only the fact that I get the incredible honour of speaking to you all, but the honour that I get because I get to talk to you about something that has impacted my life in the most positive way. Prayer. What does it mean to you? Dictionary.com refers to prayer as "An act of communion with God, a god, or another object of worship, such as in devotion, confession, praise, or thanksgiving". I think this pretty much sums up what it is. However, to me, prayer is something much more captivating and overwhelming. Its something that as I have matured, has matured with me.

In a hectic society like the one we live in today, it is often difficult to really grasp and feel the overwhelming senses of prayer and the real powerful impact it has. When we begin praying to God, we often remember our parents kneeling at our bedside our hands in place, saying what we are grateful for, who we wish God watches over and then say a poem such as 'before I lay me down to sleep I pray the lord my soul to keep if I die before I wake I pray the lord my soul to take' and then you proceed in saying Amen. I think I did this with my parents up to the age of 8. Then after that it was on my own from there. From the age of 8 I immediately stopped kneeling at my bedside and saying my prayers out loud. I began praying when I lay in my bed before I went to bed. I also began praying in silence. The silence wasn't because I was ashamed, but more because prayer was becoming an intimate time for me. It was my time, alone with God, amongst the busy mist of my day.

For that matter, I think young people, all people for that matter need prayer in their lives. Prayer is especially important from a young persons perspective because it shapes their beliefs and willingness to continue their spiritual journey. If a young person doesn't realize the real overwhelming and powerful impact prayer has, they most likely will cut back the process. It is like that for most things in life. However, being able to see the different ways you can pray, which Sid so graciously educates about, can help you find a style that is right for you.

Prayer is something that we shouldn't neglect to do in our every day lives. We need this source of communication because without so, how can we communicate our thoughts and our feelings to God in such a direct manner?