In Defense Of Thoughts & Prayers

July 11

When catastrophe strikes far away, past the initial surge of response, we’re left helpless. All we can offer is to keep looking. To willingly let our hearts continue to bleed for troubles and sorrows not our own.

Our thoughts, usually rampant, are united. Focused not on distraction or triviality, not on video games or streams, not on loved ones or old memories, but pain. Not even our pain, but someone else’s. And if our thoughts are the main construct of our reality, the main thing that decides how we perceive the world, why would we willingly focus them on pain not our own?

And prayers. A word we have little space for, the kind of intimate, unknown, ineffectual dice roll we keep in our back pockets. If you pray daily, what gift could be more sacred? And if you don’t, what could be a better one time exception to the rule?

Offer your money. Offer your time. Offer your hands and the pain in your back as you take on the burdens of another.

But when your back is up against the wall… And you have no other options… Do not underestimate your thoughts and your prayers, or those of others.

Because sometimes, that’s really all anyone has.

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