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A Prayer For
"People In The Dump"
by Adam Hengeveld
As I sat in church, surrounded by the wonderful sounds of the Service of
Matins, I looked for a way to dispose of my chewing gum. I remembered
the little slips of bright green prayer-request paper in each pew, and I
grabbed
one.
I knew this was an improper use of the little slips, and I immediately
had the
feeling God was reminding me of their proper use when I noticed some
writing
on the slip I had grabbed. Instead of making its way into the offering
basket
and to the altar, this neglected slip found itself back where it began,
in the pew.
Yet the prayer request it held, though simple, speaks volumes for our
world
today.
In a wonderful script typical of youngsters just learning to write, on
the line
for “Name of Individual or Happening to Be Prayed For” was scrawled “
people in the dump,” with the last word running up the side of the paper.
It gets better. There was another section on the slip, “Specific Prayer
Request(s) for the Above-Listed Name.” The young person dutifully
continued
the supplication with this: “Please help the people in the dump find jobs
and
food.”
The profound nature of this simple statement was not lost on me. Yes, I
used
another prayer-request slip for my flavor-depleted chewing gum. However,
my
thoughts remained with the words scrawled on the first slip: “Please help
the
people in the dump find jobs and food.”
I am certain the child must have heard a parent or other significant
adult say
something about being “down in the dumps,” a phrase we use when things
aren’t going well for us.
What warmed my heart most was the apparent understanding and
confidence of this child. That the child wrote this small prayer request
speaks
volumes, really. For me, it evidences confidence in the power of prayer,
the
childlike faith Matthew writes about: “He called a little child and had
him stand
among them. And He said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and
become
like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore,
whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven’ (18:2–4).”
It is important to remember that there is a difference between being
childish
and humbling oneself like a child, which Jesus calls us to do. A
childlike faith is
unceasing in times of trouble, unconditional in love and abounding in
praise. A
childlike faith is a face lit up while singing “Jesus Loves Me” as loud
as possible
in the front of the church, while also sneaking a wave and a smile to mom
and
dad. A childlike faith is unshakeable.
Those of us no longer considered childlike by outward appearances can
learn a thing or two about a childlike faith from that prayer request for
the
“people in the dump.” Although we are to continually strive for whatever
earthly understanding we may attain about the complexities of our faith
and
knowledge of God, we can still remain unceasing and unmoving in the
simplicity
of a childlike faith as children of God.
Let us then pray for the “people in the dump,” because there are many
now,
whether they are members of our family, fellow church members, our
neighbors or people in this nation or around the world. Our economic
difficulties fell on the prayerful mind of a child, and as we pray for
those in our
world in need, we remember the unwavering confidence of a child in the
strength, power and mercy of our God, and the comfort, peace and joy He
offers in all circumstances.
Adam Hengeveld lives in Texas.
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