Jan and I used to attend our little local church, only to Evensong, but every week. The tiny congregation there was all over 70, and they were the brightest, nicest people one could meet. The vicars, over the time we attended, varied greatly, from the career vicar who was there when we moved here [a great man], to a range of 'second career' vicars, who were really filling in before retirement after working somewhere in Human Resources. These guys always wanted to end the service early to get back to TV on Sunday evenings.
When Jan became ill there was concern at the church, and prayers. We eventually left the church services because we became imprisoned at home.
As Jan got worse, and finally moved to her care home, I lost all reason to believe in anything, but, because I was the PC professional in the village, I continued to produce the church magazine for many years.
The magazine editor was a steely, fantastic Scottish lady [not only was I a PC professional, but I have never believed in that other 'PC', and nothing on Earth would have me call her a 'Scottish Woman', as the politically corrupt [whoops, that should be correct] nitwits would have it these days].
She knew my views on religion had changed but she always said "we always pray for you and Jan'.
When I came together with Nina, she said "see - our prayers worked. This must be providential'.
Last week I took the current vicar, an excellent vicar and young mother, to see Jan, as I have been trying to prepare things for the time when Jan eventually passes on. Before we went we had a short time at the vicarage, where we discussed the form of service, charges, etc, and she asked permission to end that part with some prayers.
Well, I had explained my own views but said that I believed that Jan would like it. She said "that's what we are here for, to pray for you both at times like this when you have more important things to contend with". The prayers were very moving, I found, much to my surprise. Perhaps it was that here was someone who cared about Jan's condition, in a way that so many, including her own family, didn't.
We visited Jan and the vicar crawled with me and with Jan. Before she left, she again said some prayers directly to Jan. No sign of anything from Jan of course, but again, I felt very moved.
Lynne said:
When I think of all the desperate prayers we here must offer up, I lose faith in the power of it
I agree, if we think there is somebody 'up there' who listens. Maybe there is, maybe not.
But I think the point is that the saying of prayers is not so much a requesting of something from a god somewhere, but it is a recognition of things gone wrong, and a 'feeling' for the person/persons concerned. A wishing things could be better.
And somehow, that helps.