Prayer is to reach within

Zalman Tiechtel, rabbi, Chabad Jewish Community Center, 1203 W. 19th St.:

Prayer is a form of madness. Tell me that it is rational to talk to the Force of Being as though this were your closest confidant. Tell me that it is not absurd to plead with this force to adjust reality more to your liking — as though you know better how to run the universe.

A philosopher cannot pray — unless he loses his mind. A pragmatist does not pray until he loses control. Prayer, like love, is more about losing yourself than it is about finding any great truth.

If so, should we not strive to be reasonable people? Why have we institutionalized madness?

This is something vital to know: There is madness, and there is madness. There is blind, stupid madness — madness not worth listening to because it has nothing to say. And there is madness that has very much to say, so much the mind cannot listen unless it sits quiet and still.

There is madness that transforms human beings into monsters, imprisoning them within the worst of their own fantasies — and there is madness that lies at the nucleus of being human, a divine spark that makes us free, living beings and not mechanical humanoids. To pray is to find the essence of life within your own heart.

It is at that nub of madness that lies beyond reason and intellect, that lies at our very core and essence, it is there that we touch the core and essence of reality, that which we call God. And from there we speak with God, for there the two of us are one.

— Send e-mail to Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel at rabbi@jewishku.com

Relationship depends on investment

John Allen, pastor, Christ Community Church, 1100 Kasold Drive:

God is passionate about a relationship with us. The beautiful kinship he intended for us was severed when our first parents rebelled in the Garden of Eden and remains disjointed in every human heart. The possibility of reunion was accomplished in the death of his son, Jesus. However, while reconciliation to him comes by grace through faith alone, the quality of relationship each has with him is dependent on investment into it.

With any quality relationship, communication is crucial. We hear from our creator through his revelation of himself to us, most notably and absolutely reliably through the Bible. He calls us to communicate with him through the vehicle of prayer. Unfortunately, we way over-complicate and mystify prayer. It is simply talking to God.

Successful relationships are built and sustained through communication. The principles by which we communicate in any thriving relationship apply also to relationship with God.

First, communicate honestly. Frankly, God already knows everything about you anyway. He knows what’s happening, what you’re doing, what you’re thinking and how you feel about all of it. He knows your motives better than you do yourself. He wants you to talk to him about it though. So be honest with him.

Second, communicate respectfully. If you’re frustrated with life or what you perceive God to be doing, tell him about it. We want our children to be able to communicate, even when they’re upset. But we still want them to be respectful. We want our friends to be honest when there is something between us. But respect is still vital to the ongoing relationship.

Finally, communicate constantly. He says, “Pray without ceasing.” Don’t give up on the communication. Talk with him all the time. He’s passionate about relationship with you. Be passionate about your side of the relationship as well.

— Send e-mail to John Allen at john@1inchrist.org.