The Prayer Jar

Father Bill suggested we offer a prayer for someone during each day of Lent.

As this Lenten challenge required no abstinence from chocolate, I readily agreed.

I found an empty jar and a couple packs of Post-It Notes and went to work.

It isn’t hard to come up with 40 people in need of prayers, not hard at all. That was my first revelation.

The first two dozen names came easily. I regularly worry about them all anyway, so it felt good to call in some reinforcements from up above.

At least two mornings (so far) I added names of people who irked me, and I felt much better about them after I offered prayers on their behalf.

I think prayers work in reciprocal ways.

I’m keeping a list because I consider my prayer jar cumulative. Each morning when I add my latest name, I’m also praying for all the other people whose names I crammed into that jar.

I guess I’m keeping God hopping, though I imagine other people are as well.

I haven’t always been such a dedicated formal pray-er. I mostly send them up spontaneously in moments of great gratitude or concern.

I mention my prayer jar here because it has turned out to be a very comforting little endeavor that hardly takes any time.

I don’t think we’re all alone out here floundering, and I appreciate the opportunity to call for some divine support every now and then.

I still have a somewhat confusing amount of days left on my Lenten prayer challenge. (Do we really not count Sundays? What’s that all about?)

In any case, I’m looking forward to filling that jar.