Marky-Mark & Obama on Prayer
Amdist much speculation of late as to the Presidents religion and practice, one of the subjects in the discussion thread that caught my attention were those surrounding the definition and practice of prayer. 
These discussions haven’t brought out any serious revelatory depth even though the President has been definitive in stating that he is a Christian but doesn’t wear his faith on his sleeve. I happened to catch a few minutes of the Glenn Beck show on FOX radio last Friday where he had found some earlier quotes from Obama related to faith (If the mention of “Glenn Beck” causes you to tune out, I can assure you I am not a Beck-head, though like Stephen King* have a growing admiration for the sincerity he communicates for his convictions, and have only recently even become casually acquainted with his medium). Beck cited a 2004 interview with Cathleen Falsani, when the President was asked if he prayed, Obama responded with some detail by saying, “Yes, I guess I do. It’s not formal, me getting on my knees. I think I have an ongoing conversation with God. I think throughout the day. I’m constantly asking myself questions about what am I doing and why am I doing it.**”
While many “pray”, finding a general consensus definition can be a little like nailing jello to the wall. In the popular culture of cut-and-paste spirituality, we are often tempted to string together fragments of perspectives from various reservoirs. 
From the aforementioned snippet from the President it almost sounds as though Obama considers his own thoughts or internal self-speak as a form of prayer or as Beck speculates, could Mr. Hope even be understood to hint that he is god? Prayer is surely an activity, we grant it a designation apart from thought and something distinct from conversation as well, yet prayer incorporates elements of reflection and discussion. Some have compared it to calling, emailing or conversing with God, and even Biblically there are several words that are utilized to describe the practice of prayer. Perhaps though, the simplest piece is also the most relevant one, the definition and the practice of prayer depends primarily on whom it is the pray-er is trying to connect to.
If one seeks solace to reflect or center oneself, than its not as important whom you are connecting to as where you are – a quiet place. You can talk to yourself or entertain a spirit guide in any form and find some precipice of improvement to conquer within whatever time frame of mental solitude you grant yourself. The practice becomes more important than the result or the medium. Yet, if the Biblical concepts for prayer are understood, then the practice and the medium are directed by the connection. To connect with the historic God is not nor can it be based upon personal merit, for we have none when evaluated against the perfect nature of a holy God. 
Neither can connection be based upon a color-by-numbers religious prescription as there is no incantation of magically religious words that will summon the heavenly unicorn which ushers all earnest supplicants to the end of the treasure filled prayer rainbow. While there are hundreds of verses that speak on the subject of prayer, there is a moment in the Old Testament (one of many) where God declares, “When you cry out for help, let your collection [of idols] save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But the man who makes me his refuge will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.” (Isaiah 57:13) In case the meaning escapes you, in frankness God calls to account the people who have placed their trust in everything but God and yet blame God and complain that He doesn’t save them, both figuratively and literally. God throws it back at them – let everything else that you have worshipped and trusted in save you. Yet, God continues to be merciful, even when we spit at and squander His blessings, declaring that if we trust in Him He will give to us Himself and His promises.
Again, the primary question in clarifying the definition and practice of prayer is simpler than we often make it – whom are you attempting to connect with? 
I was pleasantly surprised to discover a fresh wind of precision from the artist turned actor formerly known as Marky-Mark. In a question selected from various fans touching on what he has learned from being a father, Mark Wahlberg notes, “What I do every day is pray for the strength to be a good servant, father and husband. I ask for the ability to raise my kids, to teach and protect them, and to be disciplined and firm and loving and nurturing. It can be a fine line, so I ask God for the strength no to lose my patience with my children***. ” Wahlberg is definitively connecting with a source that empowers him to carry out a purpose that is whole and good. Mark notes his personal inability and need for direction in this specific pursuit and the emphasis is on whom he connects with in his practice of prayer. Without making too much out of small fragments, these selections from Obama and Wahlberg give some perspective as to the nature of prayer by whom they are connecting with.
Obama is accurate in the sentiment that we can carry an on-going discussion with God and Wahlberg exemplifies a relationship of humility before a holy God. Whether one believes in quiet reflection or supernatural connection, the reality is that even the devout fail in any real consistency or depth in either. 
Christ for His part regularly practiced solitude with God. Finding a solitary place to pray and spending time connecting with God was essential to the life of Christ, His ministry and the accomplishment of His purpose. Where Christ is consistent in this simplicity, He ultimately is the only bridge over which any man can approach or connect to God. “No man comes to the Father except through Me,” is certainly a difficult bridge to cross – recognizing that connecting to God is neither based on personal merit or religious prescription means that we cannot be right enough or do it right enough to make the connection on our own. Christ becomes the means and the medium through which a real and meaningful connection is made with a personal (never trivial) God.
FOOTNOTES:
*See “Rush to Judgement” from Stephen King’s regular periodical in Entertainment Weekly #114 August 6, 2010
**Transcripts from Falsani’s interview which originated from her series of articles in The Sun Times as “The God Factor” – http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/11/obamas-interview-with-cathleen.html
***Interview in People Magazine August 16, 2010
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Tags: Religion