The Power of a Prayer

“I Say a Lil Prayer 4 U” is a beautiful song with the gorgeous Julia Roberts on screen and was included in the soundtrack of the movie “My Best Friends Wedding”. But more than the visuals what gets me hooked are the lyrics :-

 “The moment I wake up Before I put on my makeup I say a little pray for you While combing my hair now And wondering what dress to wear now I say a little prayer for you”

Such simple ways to pray for someone. Prayers really don’t need a specific time or day or date. They don’t really need a platform like a Temple, Masjid, Church etc to come true. A heartfelt prayer made for someone anytime of the day is accepted by the Lord. The  prejudice that only the person entering a temple, completing all the rituals would be entitled for their prayers to come true, is as an equal hogwash, as to the person who prays on a prayer mat in the Masjid. Well numerous examples I can cite in naming different communities and religious worship styles. The point here is PRAYER’s are much above all of this. It’s a heart to heart connect with GOD.

I, as a mortal human being sometimes am so self obsessed with my Life, my problems. And each time my prayers revolved around me and my immediate family. And then one incident changed my approach altogether. It was the 11th of July 2006, which incidentally also happens to be my birthday, there I was cutting my birthday cake amidst my colleagues at work, laughing, enjoying and suddenly one of my colleagues gets a call that there’s been a train blast and a cousin of his has been gravely injured. We all packed up and rushed home hearing about the blast and kept praying we reach home safe and sound to our loved ones. The enormity of the train blasts struck us the next morning when we saw the pictures and news all over the papers and television. That’s when I broke down and cried and prayed to God that let all the ones injured and fighting for their lives in the hospital, heal and get well soon, not just bodily but also from the soul. Being in such a devastating situation, witnessing death almost in the face, am sure the survivors have been given a new life and they appreciate it and not take it for granted. The family members of the deceased and injured actually know what problems, grief and hurt are. Compared to them, our issues and grievances seem immaterial.

That’s when the way I prayed changed. Now, when I bow down to the Almighty, I first pray for my Parents and Sister and then for the happiness of everyone in generic. Not just restricted to the people I know, but to everyone in the entire world, like the innocent victims of terror attacks over the world, the people of SYRIA and many such countries which go unnoticed, the victims of acid attacks, child abuse, rape survivors and especially for those who hate us and have hurt us..Forgiveness and Prayers is the only Salvation for our peace of mind. I’m sure they all deserve a chance at happiness. In this holy month of RAMADAN, let’s all pledge to pray for the well being and happiness of everyone as humans.