The Dolores star., 1911-08-04
Why
Pray?
From, Obs Ouileok

From TBs Outlook
HE skeptic asks. sonsvhas
NN cavalisriy: What Do you
~ know about 0odi vsry NJ
NN tie. What DO you know
NlNS about the laws Of spiritua1
~ intercourse? VERY little.
Why. then. do you prayf We answer
with parallel questions. What do you
know about electricity vsry littis.
What do you know about the laws Of
electricityf Very little. Why. then.
do you ride In . trolley cart We pray
for the same reason that We ride n
the trolley car. The trolley car brings
us to our destination: IL praying
gives Us the inspiration Of comfort r.
Elimination and strength for daily
needs.
The sksptic asks: u Il conceivable
that God should set aside the laws of
nature at the request OF one - hae
childrenf We answer that question
with another. 10 II conceivable that .
fellow man should sst aside Tie laws
Of nature at The request Of one Il H.
fellow msnf when your child b siek.
Why DO you call In phyiscianf Ca
be set aside the laws Of natursf No
but be understanAs the laws OF nature
better than you do. and By using then
brings hack health 10 the sick cA1l1.
II . physician. whose knovlsdes as1
power are limited. can DO this. WY
should ~ NOT believe that God. wttA
his larger wisdom and larger power
can do sof The argument os The
skeptic against prayer. bassd o. ~
uniformity Of nature. ID equally IN srs
gument against MI requests b. 90
person to another person and. isdee1.
against all activity d any kind. The
uniformity u naturs doss not prsvsat
~ from helping one another. neither
DOES It prevent Coz from hslpang -.
Necessity ~ Asking.
But God already Knows what Thing
We have nssA Of before W ask hin;
Why, thsn, should " esk Ainf WIN
- yls1d - Cur toaG1ag wAne - womeo
~ yte11 70 eur neo1Bf Ma Dot -
isg b oeteu the sscsssasy eoo1it1oo
u rscsivins. d b useless fos . -.
10 prescribe . msdieins which ~ -
tisnt will mot take. Il = sssless foe
. friend to offer advice whicA ~
friend win not secept II truth. u b
generally unwiss for . physician -
offer medicins until his prsscriptSoa =
asked for. and unasksd advice y rafo-
y serviceabls By asking. u cur ase-
Ink b sincere. Ne opss our eyes b ~
divine result. our hearts 70 the diviss
Inspiration. - b. going 10 friss1 -
open our souls 10 ths prefer q ~
frisndship.
But prayer 10 not merely sshtng: n
h communion. frSendship. the lstsr.
mingling Of our life with 0od's ~:
conversations with he All vAaAes.
Sometimes Il = merry iistsaing -
him. BE stiii and know that ! -
God b prayer. oh. that ! night
know that I might and him!" = peay-
Or. Commune with your own Mart
upon your bed. and b stili." b prayss.
Speak. Lord. for thy servant b listso-
ing h prayer.
ssmsis oblsst lssss~.
A boy asks Of bis father for . ssebsl
10 ride to school In the morning. -
cause be h late. and be sets Il -
turning N the aftsrnoon. after suDDes
be sits down b. BIZ father u ~
Aicksring nrslight and tells ths stosy
Of the school day: bis successes. ~
failures. bic Temptations. bic strug-
gies. victories and defeats. the 900
times hs has AaA and III diaappoese-
msnts b has suffered. and ne ~
justices which have bssn inaiets1
upon him. and how BE- has carried hsmr
self In them al: and bic father slmpoy
listens and scarcsly says wore. -
q The end Of The half.hour's -
munion the boy. Who has asks1 IT,
nothing but has received he iansu
OF his fathers life. goes 10 - -
rested. refreshed. invisosatsd. esa1y
to take up he duties sad joys q ~
nsxt day With . ssw spirit 1hus ~
tell our rAthss the story - our NE
experiences. and resolve froo ess ~
thss somsthtns a The greaaness -
Bis own stature 70 q 10 for vbst ~
hsfoss 10. In prayer. To 6say ths -
sibility u such prayer b - 6say -
sxpsrisncs - old aad - univsfsal -
humanity.
pssw - aensw oessNOeM
they that wait On ~ Les1 eooo
rsasv thsis strength L1s = . -
sfnual Asain upea sssossssa oese1geA
b belns eesssantly saS0e1L \ ~
10 .. nsaas nnss - foun1 = ~ -
~ rssssvs1s; IT. tstahs nsse -