Peter ponders prayer

It seems humans pray a lot.  They pray at meals.  They pray before bed.  They pray when they get up.  They pray for friends.  They pray for family.  They pray when calls come in to pray for emergencies.  They pray when they are celebrating.  They even pray for themselves.  I was pondering what prompts people to pray when I realized sometimes they pray for no particular reason.  As I pondered, I wondered if there are proper praying positions.  I prefer being prone, legs outstretched and paws proping my head.  Some humans pray facing particular directions.  Some pray on their knees.  Some pray standing.  Some fold hands, some open hands, some raise hands.  Some pray eyes open.  Some pray eyes closed.

I cannot close my eyes.  I was made to always have my eyes open.  Please, do not go and protest this as a cruel human practice to create stuffed animals without the possibility to shut our eyes.  Having our eyes open all the time allows us to be alert for the needs of the human for whom we have been created.  Caring for humans is a 24/7 responsibility.  Just ask the God to whom you pray.  That's right we were pondering prayer.  Sorry for prattling on about stuffed animal anatomy.

What I have personally observed with my Preacher Pal is that prayer is an important part of the life of humans.  Prayer is this conversation with God.  Preacher Pal prays for those in need, those loved, prays to share with God hopes, fears, pain, sorrow, gratitiude, joys, dreams, in fact, Preacher Pal shares everything with God.  Observing this, I am perplexed as I have not heard God answer these prayers.  I have been assured that God does answer, just not as humans or bears often anticipate.  What a puzzlement.  It is all very mysterious.  Seems to me that it makes prayer a place of possibilities.  What humans see as impossible they bring to God for whom all things are possible.  Praying provides humans the potent presence of God.  The future may be unknown but with this abiding presence in the life of the human, the present circumstances become pregnant with potential.

So why would humans stop praying?  That is very much like the question, why do humans put their precious stuffed animals into closets or trunks or boxes?  We are created to bring peace and comfort to our humans, yet humans believe there comes a time they no longer need our support.  They shut us away and forget.  We do not forget, even shut in the darkness of closet or trunk or box, we continue to be present for our humans.  Even if their choice was to give us away, we never forget them.  I understand that stuffed bears may be outgrown, cannot say that makes me happy, but I can understand how humans think that way, but can humans outgrow God?  If the presence of God brings peace, why stop praying?  Very perplexing.  This human practice of prayer is powerful.  Perhaps people stop praying because they no longer believe God is powerful or that prayer is powerful because they do not like the answer to their prayers.  Can I say again, very perplexing.

Preacher Pal and I have many unknowns before us, so I will be praying God's peace and presence in the peculiar path prepared for us.  I will also be praying that all my stuffed brothers and sisters never are sent to be stored in a closet, box, trunk, or attic but always present in the life of the human for whom they were created.

Peter