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May's Readers' Reflection Question


In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27)
 
       Every month, the Erie Times News asks for Readers’ Reflections to a question in their Religion section. I generally provide an answer. This month’s answers were published this morning. The question was if our prayers have been answered and what we did if the answer wasn’t what we wanted. There were lots of good answers. Here was mine:
          My prayers seem to be answered “no” more often than “yes.” I returned to Erie praying about the direction for the next six months. A place I’d like to work isn’t taking applications. I hurt my knee recently, which makes my plans harder It’s not the way I wanted my summer to begin, but it is direction: “Not that way.” He also guided me to a support group for writers. More direction: “That way.” I’m learning not to ask “Yes/No” requests, but who, what, when, where, and how requests. Then, even no isn’t “no.”
 
          I admit, that lesson isn’t well-learned yet. It’s easy to ask for solutions to problems, healing for those who aren’t well, etc. “I want” and “Give” are easier to say when you don’t know what to say. I’ve been told that “Yes/No” questions end conversations. Open-ended questions continue the conservation.

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