Is Prayer Shameful?

I was listening to a this week’s show of DNTO (Definitely Not The Opera)—the focus of the show was on prayer.

A dear friend had sent me the link…as a quirky, sometimes irrereverant variety of viewpoints on prayer.

I listened to a variety of people being interviewed on how and when they pray and what happens when they pray. Muslims, agnostics, Christians, and some that aren’t even sure what they consider themselves…but they pray.

There were a few themes that developed:

• People pray because they want to…almost feel a natural compulsion to communicate with Power beyond them. Even if they don’t follow a religious tradition, they pray. Even if they don’t understand what it means, what it does, or if it does anything, they pray.
• Prayer changes people. People described an increased feeling of peace or contentment. They were able to acknowledge their ultimate lack of control over their life in a manner than didn’t increase stress…almost releasing them from the pressure to attempt to control the impossible. Prayer helped people’s attitudes adjust to something that felt more compassionate or understanding or kind. Praying was good for people and better prepared them to face their world
• People are often ashamed that they will be “caught” praying or even to admit to another that they do pray. It seems they fear others will judge them in some way…though no one articulates why they are so shy about praying, most avoid talking about it, or try to hide when they do pray.

Seems like something that is such a powerful tool that serves an important purpose in so many peoples’ lives should be celebrated and acknowledged as a normal part of life. Many people exercise, many people enjoy reading, many people pray as part of their normal life. Should it have to be a hidden secret?