In defense of prayer

(This post inevitably touches on US politics. Skip it or save it for later if you need to. I love you very much.)

I am not a religious person. I was raised in a Christian household, where prayer was a ritual performed before each meal and before bed. No one told me why we did this. As a child, I supposed the obvious answer was that it was to talk to God (nevermind his omniscience). When I started making my own decisions about what to believe regarding the metaphysical, the ritual fell out of my priorities pretty quickly. I hadn't prayed in the last 15 years.

Despite all that, it probably doesn't shock you to hear that I prayed this morning. The prayer was four short sentences, first written in my notes, then whispered as telebasher's "prayer" played in the background. Its contents are to be kept private between me and whatever entity might've been listening.

In retrospect, I think it may have been the only prayer I've uttered in my entire life that was useful. It was intentional & desperate, not recited from memory for the umpteenth time. It helped me put words to the existential fear in my heart. I suspect even those with religious motivations for praying understand this - that prayer is a tool for oneself more than it is for their god.

If you pray - or if you at least concede that prayer can be a useful tool - I ask that you pray for those who stand to fear for their rights & livelihoods in the coming years. Put your apprehensions about the world into words worthy of a god's ears. Whatever answer comes to you, I furthermore ask that you take it seriously. Seek out whatever action you're called to do. Volunteer your time to a worthy organization, or donate to a trans fundraiser, or just send a vulnerable friend a nice message.

After that, do something else that makes you happy. Maybe play some music?

Posting to this blog feels like praying, in a lot of ways. Maybe that's why I feel comfortable sharing all of this here...