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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.

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