The Power Of Prayer

“If you would suffer with patience the adversities and miseries of this life, be a man of prayer. If you would obtain courage and strength to conquer the temptations of the enemy, be a man of prayer. If you would mortify your own will with all its inclinations and appetites, be a man of prayer. If you would know the wiles of Satan and unmask his deceits, be a man of prayer. If you would live in joy and walk pleasantly in the ways of penance, be a man of prayer. If you would banish from your soul the troublesome flies of vain thoughts and cares, be a man of prayer. If you would nourish your soul with the very sap of devotion, and keep it always full of good thoughts and good desires, be a man of prayer. If you would strengthen and keep up your courage in the ways of God, be a man of prayer. If you would uproot all vices from your soul and plant all virtues in their place, be a man of prayer. It is in prayer that we receive the unction and grace of the Holy Ghost, who teaches all things. – St. Bonaventure

One night after an open house event at our school, I spent some time afterward talking with my principal. When we decided that it was time to call it a night, we realized that we were the last to leave. So my principal asked if I would lock the back door as she locked the office and the front entrance on her way out to her car.

   It was a cold night and the ground surface was wet from an earlier rain, as I made my way to my car. Suddenly I found myself standing precariously on a layer of black ice. My crutch began to slip outward and I was slowly losing my balance as I was going down. While still caught between vertical and horizontal, I could see, to my right, my principal’s car speeding up the road on her way home. As loud as I could I called out to her, hoping to get her attention. But it was fruitless. Her car made the turn and was soon out of sight.

   I could feel my strength waning, and knew that I had but one chance to right myself. I prayed hard for God’s help and knew that He was with me, for the panic had subsided and I knew that with His help I’d find a way out. Both feet had found some resistance on the ground beneath me, but the crutch tip gave no same confidence. I mustered what strength I had left and with a final plea to God I pulled upward and re-planted the crutch tip hoping to find a dry spot. By the grace of God I did. I was then able to straighten myself and made steps, like the steps of an infant, toward my car that was always but five feet away.

   When I reached my car, I leaned against it as though I were the survivor of a shipwreck who had found dry land. Then I carefully got into my car pulled the door shut and exhaled a sigh of relief. After a brief prayer of thanks to the One who never leaves us orphaned in any manner, I turned the key in the ignition and headed home.

   Once we give ourselves to prayer we open a line of communication. We speak and God listens. And prayer is a two – way street. For,  when we are silent, He speaks to us. He always answers our prayer. Depending on the nature of our petition, He answers yes, no or wait. I’m grateful that He said “yes” that night.

One who prays, though he/she be the last person on earth, will yet not be alone.