The other day, I left to run errands, and as I opened the garage door, I was a little frightened by a rustling sound coming from the stack of boxes-within-boxes in the front of my garage. I anxiously stepped aside, expecting a squirrel or rabbit to come running out, but nothing moved. Whatever it was had been in the dark garage all night. I gently tapped one of the boxes with my foot and heard more rustling, so I peeked over just closely enough to see the eyes and beak of a dark gray bird. It looked so scared. I’m sure my saying I wasn’t going to hurt it was far from comforting. I slowly moved an empty shoe box out of the way to give the bird some room, hoping it would fly out. The bird appeared to sink lower, in between two smaller boxes, so I immediately thought it was hurt. Without organizing a plan or my thoughts, I quickly asked for St. Francis of Assisi’s intercession. I gently lifted the large box to the floor with the intention of pushing it to the driveway so it would at least be outside. However, once the box was on the floor, the bird quickly flew out and headed to the roof across the street. I was relieved, and my unarticulated prayer was answered.
We’re familiar with Random Acts of Kindness. Hopefully, we’ve been on both the giving and receiving end of a few. I have also been blessed and comforted by ‘Random Acts of Prayer,’ like the moment above, coming unexpectedly and just when I need it. Recently, I wasn’t having a good day, and out of the blue, a good friend texted me just to ask if I was doing okay. How did she know? Normally, our texts are to confirm occasional dinner plans or share family photos. Her letting me know she was thinking of me felt like a prayer, and it was a comforting gift.
Several years ago, I started trying to be better about offering ‘Random Acts of Prayer’ after I heard a visiting priest share a story during his homily. He had gotten in the habit of saying a prayer when he heard the emergency siren of a police car, firetruck, or ambulance. He prayed that God be with everyone involved, especially anyone in need of physical healing. On one occasion, he later learned that the person he prayed for inside the ambulance that passed by him was his relative. His story made an impact on me. The power of prayer; the gift of prayer. An opportunity to spread and share the Lord’s mercy and grace by quietly asking God’s blessing for someone who crosses our paths. Since hearing that story, I do say a prayer when I hear an emergency siren, and I’ll often offer a ‘random’ prayer for another shopper or driver or a prayer of safety for the police officer next to me at the stop light.
When you feel a new strength you didn’t have earlier in the day, or you know how to approach a situation that had you stumped, or something good unexpectedly comes your way, perhaps you are on the receiving end of a ‘random act of prayer.’ Through these prayers we offer and receive, may we share and be filled with the words of faith in today’s first reading: “…grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (2 Tim 1:2)
Journeying to Grace 