“Thoughts and Prayers”

Here is what people are doing when they offer up prayers after a tragedy.

1)     INDIRECT HELP: Many people are at a disadvantage in terms of distances and resources to have direct impact on events they hear about. With rapid communication across the globe, tragedies are not just what you hear about instantly in your town but what happens on the other side of the world that 20 years ago would make a brief article in a national newspaper a week later. People hear about, are concerned, want to help, are at a loss to directly help, and, instead, rightly communicate to the creator of the universe to instruct those who can directly help.

2)     DIRECT HELP: Many people have the advantage of distance and resources and can have direct impact on tragic events. When they are offering up prayers, they are asking the creator of the universe – the source of all knowledge and wisdom – how best to engage. How should they help? Where should they help? What resources are necessary? That’s how prayer works. It’s communication with God to address a problem and seek a solution.