Thoughts and Prayers

In the wake of another horrific shooting, I've noticed a new trend on the internet. Maybe it isn't even a new trend; maybe it's just the first time I'm seeing it. Regardless, a number of people I know are decrying the "thoughts and prayers" statements that seem to follow every natural and unnatural disaster.

Personally, I usually avoid making public thoughts and prayers statements. I don't take issue with them but I do believe that what I pray about is between me and God and rarely anyone else. I would even cautiously say that I understand where these statements come from. Some people want to see civic and legislative action, others want people to foster a stronger community through more tangible actions. The statements I have seen against thoughts and prayers are varied but they all play on the theme that "thoughts and prayers are not enough."

They may not be enough. If I believed that thoughts and prayers were enough, I would probably not be involved in a possibly unhealthy number of volunteer activities. We do need to do more. We need to do more every day and not just on the days when there's bad news. That said though, thoughts and prayers are a beautiful first step for many people. If you hold a faith, thoughts and prayers have a real and powerful meaning. If you don't hold to a faith, thoughts and prayers are still a gesture of goodwill and of compassion, often for people that you've never met. I would argue that we could all use a little more of both those things. Especially for my friends who aren't religious, I hope you'll suffer a few thoughts from me on how very real thoughts and prayers can be.

The last few weeks have been incredibly difficult for me. There isn't much anyone can do. However, friends who call or text to tell me that they are thinking of me and praying for me help me incredibly. The same was true during Hurricane Harvey. Yes, friends may have helped by donating to charities helping to rebuild Houston or maybe they helped by sending water and other supplies to the area. Though these actions helped so many people, none of them helped me personally but the many, many thoughts and prayers that people offered up made me feel more loved and less scared. Those thoughts and prayers were one of the most touching and important things to me during Harvey.

Thoughts and prayers might not be enough, especially when we are faced with real tragedy, but they are something and to a great many people they do foster community and understanding. Perhaps, rather than decrying thoughts and prayers, we could ask what comes next?