Don't Feel Like Praying? Yes, We Can!

Maybe it's because we're still tired and depressed from last week's election. I know I am. Just the word "Obama" has begun to trigger a Pavlovian response in me, making me feel hopeless and frustrated. But I'm not sensing much enthusiasm for praying for Obama. An objection I heard Monday morning was from a great prayer warrior friend, who simply said he has enough on his "prayer plate" already, what with praying for his family that seems to have some sort of crisis every week. But he is also angry and depressed, and understandably just doesn't really want to pray for this man. I feel your pain, brother!

After giving it some thought, here's my response: Barack Obama is, frankly, our enemy. Even if we don't dislike him personally, we certainly dislike many of the things he supports and stands for. We Christians are under a mandate to pray for our enemies, so pray for him we must.

As far as putting family first, that is absolutely the right thing to do, and Mondays for Obama need not change the order of your prayers. Pray for family first, and then pray for him. And bear in mind that when you pray for Obama you are praying for your family, because his leadership is absolutely going to have an impact on your loved ones.

Right now, in the immediate aftermath of this most depressing event of my life as an American (not counting September 11), thinking about this man and praying for his good and his conversion is a dirty job. But somebody has to do it! People's lives are at stake here, and not just his. Besides, we know that the act of praying for someone we dislike, or even hate, helps us to forgive and to learn to love them. This will take time, probably a lot of time, but all we need to look at is one day at a time.

If you want a little pep talk, go to Priests for Life (see the Team Support column) and check out the video of Father Frank Pavone. As he says: Right now it's Friday, and Jesus is on the cross. The sheep are scattered in confusion. But Sunday's coming!