Article September 13, 1999 Issue

call the security guard or pray?

Prayer tames an unruly neighbor.

By Melissa Jane Hayden

The concert had just started when a disheveled young man pushed his way through the crowd to the empty patch of grass next to me and my son. It wasn't long before this newcomer started to shout obscenities at the performers and make derisive comments about the program. The people around us began to move away, and I instinctively pulled my son a little closer. My first thought was to get a security guard to escort the vociferous visitor from the area. There's nothing wrong with that approach, but I also knew that I could make a difference by praying.

I had learned that turning to God in times of trouble is a safe choice. In other situations where I had felt frightened or insecure, my prayers had helped me gain peace and composure. I knew that calming my thought by trusting God's omnipotence would help me find a solution in this situation, too.

I silently affirmed and knew that God is in charge of all of His creation and that not one of His children is out of order. It seemed hard to focus on that idea, however, because the man's comments were becoming louder and ruder. I knew that my son and I, and everyone else at the concert, had a right to enjoy the show without disruption. I then realized that the young man also had a right to enjoy the show quietly. I turned to God with all my heart and asked, "Dear Father, what do I need to know here about this situation that will help me—and him?" I listened for God's voice, and the message that came surprised me. The word addiction boomed in my thinking.

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