How to pray?
All of a sudden, my friend, Zach, fell from the sky like a bolt. We were at the Malibu Creek Rock Pool where kids dive off the rocks into the waters below. But he hadn’t warned me he was going to fling himself from the highest perch — 30-40 feet up. When I saw him appear in the sky, my heart leapt.
I guess he knows what he’s doing, I said to myself. His head bobbed up in the water, and he swam to the side. It was my first time at the pond, and I watched in horror as other kids lunged from lesser heights. I’m a chicken for such thrills-seeking.
Zach, a 25-year-old former UCLA football player, hit a rock. He clambered out of the lake in pain. He had broken his tail bone in the depths of the pool. (UPDATE: Either prayer healed him or he didn’t break the bone, doctor now says! PTL! Just swollen.)
Not everyone likes this brand of fun. But as human beings, we gravitate toward excitement. Some like the thrill of a pay raise. Others, a business venture. Others, work out hard at the gym to turn eyes in the restaurant.
Actually a hardened prayer warrior is not a bored person. He likes thrills too! His thrills, though, derive from answers to prayer. It may takes months or years, but when you see a person change (get off drugs, improve their marriage, whatever), there’s an interior thrill of knowing you affected positively the course of human affairs. This is how to pray.
Maybe you’re not interested in waiting months for an answer to prayers. Maybe you like weeks of bed rest instead.
Maybe my friend Zach will be praying a lot these days — because he won’t be doing too much else.
PTL it wasn’t more serious, like a broken neck!
It was SERIOUSLY scary, but he apparently walked away form it, either by miracle or by miracle.
Wow! PTL so glad he was spared that day.
yeah, what I don’t get is: why’d he even try? if you want the rush of a fall, why not go to Six Flags where it’s safer?
I agree! You can get a big rush from some of the monster coasters!
Maybe I took some “risks” for God on the mission field, but just for a rush, I wouldn’t do it.
Me neither, life is too precious. You learn that after you’ve lived long enough. 🙂
I guess a lot of young guys in my church are the mas macho types. This was like some kind of joke for them, but it scared me.
Is PTL Praise The Lord? Pardon what I’m about to say but I think your friend’s action was plain stupid and risk bad example for the kids who followed albeit from lesser heights. He should be able to see that the were rocks and the water seemed shallow to take the height of diving. Maybe I am wrong and judging too fast. Sorry if I am. But praise the Lord indeed that he is fine. We shouldn’t push our luck for thrills.
Yes, PTL means Praise the Lord. Regarding his decisions, I have no comment. Great to hear from you!
Wow that was frightening
sure was!
What a creative way of thinking: adrenaline junkies and prayer warriors, an unlikely pairing but I definitely see the similarities.
Hope Zach heals up quickly!
me too!
This looks so scary and I am not afraid to say I ‘d rather be a coward than attempt this. He had a lucky escape and I am sure he will count his blessings.
I agree 100% w u!
Unfortunately I can relate. Sometimes us manly men…or crazy clowns…do things just for the sake of doing them. Not a lot of forethought goes into it. I have several injuries that will stay with me through this life through sheer ” adrenaline seeking ” stupidity. But ya know what? I’d probably do it again! Why? I DO NOT KNOW. The good Lord gave me a full time brain but I’m still only using it part time. Glad Zack is doing fine. …mysterious ways indeed!
Doug
“the good Lord gave me a full time brain but I’m still only using it part time” LOL classic quote, thanks for explaining to me
Wow…the Power of Prayer is amazing! My son was completely and miraculously healed from the often deadly Bacterial Meningitis. It even stumped the infectious disease doctor of Orange County. God’s timing is always perfect. We just need to stand in the gap in prayer!
Praise God! You’re in Orange County? That’s close! I’m in Santa Monica