Power in "Prayer"

I've been thinking about this quite a bit lately.
Most Christians seem to believe that there is some magic in praying for themselves and others, as if praying to their God will change an outcome.  But what if you aren't a Christian?  What if you don't believe there is a God?  Does that mean that you can't or shouldn't pray?  Is any positive outcome for you, then, just coincidence--or is it God's grace?  And what if one prays fervently only to have a desired outcome not happen?

Jesus taught his disciples that they/we should pray in private.  He suggested that they go into a closet "in secret" and pray to God who is also in secret.  (I wish someone could convince the Bible-pounders of this.  They want to put prayer back in school, publicly.  It never left.  Any child can pray at any time, silently, as Jesus taught.  They just can't be led in any kind of prayer as a group activity on site, unless voluntarily.  But that's another issue.)

The whole "thoughts and prayers" thing that has gone on with all of the mass shootings in our country began to disgust me.  It was/is as if thinking and praying is enough to change things when it has not.  Even Dr. Phil says, "If you are in a sinking boat, pray to God, but row for the shore."  Prayer has actions implied.  Prayer isn't always enough.  Sometimes ya gotta do something, ya know?

Once upon a time, when she was quite young and in a Catholic school (long story), my beloved granddaughter expressed worry about people who didn't know Jesus, or something like that.  I said we would pray for them.  Many hours later, she said, "We didn't do it."  What?  What didn't we do?  "We didn't pray for people."  And that's the brute fact, isn't it?  How many who claim that they will pray for others never do?  My darling Robin had pure intentions.  She expected me to lead her. I just felt like a total fraud in that moment.  And I was!

Robin has now moved on to be very active in her non-denominational church--Unitarian Universalist.  She has more wisdom in her little finger than many adults have in their whole bodies.  I am extremely proud of her.  I long ago gave up the notion that she "should" be Christian because, with the current crap going on in our nation, I'm not sure even I should be.  But that's another topic.

It occurs to me that just about every religion on the planet promotes meditation.  I think that's implied in Jesus' admonition for people to pray in secret.  To me, meditation--and prayer--means FOCUS.  If one is praying or meditating, one is focusing on a desired outcome.  It doesn't necessarily mean that one is hoping for a magical outcome.

Every successful athlete on the planet will tell you that they do "imaging".  They focus on where they want the ball to go; what their follow-thru should be: how to stand, throw, swing, catch, etc.  "Keep your eye on the ball" isn't advice for failure!  I think it's the same for prayer.  If you don't believe in God, are not a Christian, don't believe that we are anything more than worm food after we die, you can still focus for good.  Pray, meditate, focus...whatever you call it.  Just do it!