Praying for Survival

The story is out: three teenagers adrift at sea in the South Pacific prayed for rescue. They survived 50 days, hanging onto their aluminum boat, sipping rainwater that fell into it, eating flying fish that landed in the boat, and killing with their bare hands one silly bird that landed on it.

I don't have a problem with praying. I don't really Pray. Many folks have suffered horrible outcomes regardless of the time they spent begging their god for help.

But, if praying keeps hope alive, if praying keeps someone focused and in the moment, its a great tool.

We tend to bargain with the great spirit, as though anything we'd do in the future could convince him-her-it to change the circumstances.

Watching world events unfold, I have lost confidence in a god that takes much stock in any one individuals suffering. Seems like god is a being that likes to test us by stirring the pot to see what happens.

My friend thinks the reason we can't be sure there is reincarnation is that we'd just give up when it gets too miserable, commit suicide, and take a chance on the next life being better.

I'm not really sure how the spirits work, the gods, or supreme powers.

But I say, if praying helps you, then do it.

As any true survivalist will tell you, the most important thing is the will to live. Praying, bargaining, repenting, and forgiving may give you a larger purpose than just making it out alive for your own well being.

Its good to feel something out there is larger than ourself, and may have an interest in our future.