How do you pray when you don’t believe?

Do you believe in prayers?

My mum does. For as long as I could remember, Mum has always prayed for everything. Mum prays when her grandchildren sit for examinations; when her glucose level climbs up the ladder; when I drive long distances without enough rest; when her sons attend job interviews; and also when Dad gets his occasional flu.

My mum believes strongly in the power of prayers - no doubt about it, for God seems to answer her prayers quite often. But I do find it odd though, for God never seems to be too bothered with my prayers.

“I think God has a beef with me,” I told Mum one day.

“Nonsense. God loves you,” replied Mum.

“Why then hasn’t He answered my prayers, like He does with yours?” I asked.

“Maybe you don’t strongly believe in Him like you should,” she explained.

I suppose my mum is right – in order for our prayers to be answered, we need to believe. Sadly, believing is not that easy, especially when our prayers have a tendency to go unanswered.

Answering prayers

Like my mum, I think Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah is also a strong believer in prayers.

A few days ago, Abu Bakar sat in front of a pothole and prayed for the authorities to improve the conditions of the road. Luckily for him, just like his prayers in the past years, they were once again answered by the authorities.

I wonder if my prayers too would stand a chance of being answered if I sat in a praying position next to potholes, clogged drains and mountains of trash easily found in almost any neighbourhood these days.

Or maybe if I prayed for cheaper ikan kembong in front of my regular wet market.

Or maybe if I prayed for a better education system in front of my children’s universities.

Or maybe if I prayed for the toll charges to be abolished in front of the toll plaza.

Or maybe if I prayed for a little freedom in practising my faith in this country.

Urgh!

Praying for change

Somehow I know none of my prayers would be answered, for unlike Abu Bakar who is also the MP of Tangga Batu, prayers of ordinary Malaysians like myself would only fall on deaf ears, like they have for years.

No wonder I have lost my belief in our authorities.

Perhaps instead of wasting my time praying for improvement when I find it so difficult to believe that our authorities are capable of improving anything, I should instead sit in front of Perdana Putra and pray for change. Now, that I do believe in wholeheartedly!

I bet my mum, who has had enough of expensive onions and chillies, would gladly join me. With her close ties with God, I reckon our prayers might just come true – especially if every ordinary Malaysian who truly believes in changing the fate of the country hops on board as well.

So, jom. Let’s pray for change.

---

FA ABDUL is a passionate storyteller, a growing media trainer, an aspiring playwright, a regular director, a struggling producer, a self-acclaimed photographer, an expert Facebooker, a lazy blogger, a part-time queen and a full-time vainpot.- Mkini