An Easter Devotion by Debbie Clark
Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them….
James 5:13-14a
On Monday, the Framingham Interfaith Community Association, along with Mayor Spicer, hosted a virtual interfaith service, called #Hope for Framingham: A Community Pauses for Reflection and Prayer. I posted it as an event on the Interfaith Community’s Facebook page. Soon thereafter, a snarky comment was posted: “Let me know how your thoughts and prayers work on COVID-19.”
I was tempted to use my power as an Administrator of that page to delete it. Then I was tempted to craft an equally sarcastic response. Finally, I decided to try to move past the sarcasm and respond to the deeper issue. Here’s what I wrote:
I’m guessing your comment is intended to be sarcastic, but I’m choosing to take it at face value and actually let you know about my experience of the impact of thoughts and prayers in this time of crisis. If thinking and praying is all we do, then I have absolutely no idea if it has any impact on Covid-19–that is a mystery. For me, prayer has a tremendous impact on my capacity to have a positive impact on the community in this time. Prayer reminds me that the world does not revolve around me, and pulls me beyond my own limited perspective. Prayer also reminds me that I am not alone, but am part of something much larger than myself. That enables me to do what I can even when it doesn’t feel like enough–because I trust there are others also doing what they can. Prayer connects me with community, and that is especially important in these days when we cannot physically be together. Prayer gives me a sense of peace, which enables me to see more clearly what is happening, and also to see more clearly where I can have a positive impact. I respect that you bring a different perspective; I hope you can respect mine as well.
I didn’t get a reply. That’s just fine. His comment prompted me to reflect on what gives me strength to try to make a difference; maybe my comment will prompt him to reflect as well.
O God, help us all discover what enables us to find strength in this time. Amen.