Forty nine year old George Sanders stands before a high school audience in Mendalhall High School, Mississippi to present a speech about his life and lessons learned along the way. He brings out a notepad and begins reading his written down speech. The audience listen to his words but it stirs nothing within them because his words are lifeless.

George’s words lack depth and are unable to penetrate to the spirit of his listeners because most of his energy is used up in reading carefully to ensure he gets the words right, leaving little energy to bring to life intuitively the experiences he wishes to share.

George, being an observant man, realizes his ineffectiveness and puts down his notepad. He seeks the audience’s pardon and starts his speech over. This time he allows the pictures of his life experiences arise within him first and then he simply clothes these pictures with the first words that come to mind. All his energy is used in calling these experiences to life and no energy is wasted in reading or memorization. The audience was so captivated by Mr. Sanders’ story that the thirty minutes allotted for questions and answers evolved into a two hour session.

What can we take from this in regards to prayer?

It is difficult to speak from the heart when reading or memorizing and only what comes from deep within has real life. We too can easily decipher the difference between a spontaneous prayer of gratitude and a prayer rattled off routinely. Words lacking life cannot ascend to the heights where HE to whom we pray resides.

“OMG” is a common phrase we hear often in the course of the day.  In fact, it is now almost an automatic reaction to unexpected excitement, tragedy, disbelief or frustration. What danger lies in the use of this phrase? The story of the boy who cried wolf comes to mind. The villagers came running out as they heard the boy cry “wolf” only to meet him laughing. They warned him only to cry “wolf” when there was actually a wolf. Once again, the boy cried “wolf”- once again the villagers came running and there was no wolf. The third time, there was actually a wolf- the boy cried “wolf…wolf,” this time no one came.

In this case, the boy’s crying was of no value anymore so the villagers paid no attention to him. His words were meaningless for he played with what he should take seriously. It is the same with the word, “God” – through this word and the concept behind it; one can gain connection to The Creator of the universe in his most pressing hour of need. The power behind this word is unmistakably evident to him who uses it only in deep reverence. If this word loses its value through careless usage, one can no longer gain a connection to the Source of all goodness through this word.  It then becomes an empty sound lacking any power.