Article February 28, 2000 Issue

PRAYER IS NOT INACTION

J.R.

I had decided to write my state representative a letter about an issue that meant a great deal to me. The letter was carefully crafted to share my views about the issue. I was stunned when I received my letter back, refused and unopened! This particular representative had written on the envelope that she never opened any mail that addressed her as "Ms." I had innocently chosen that title simply because I didn't know whether or not she was married. I did not associate it with being a feminist, as this representative evidently had.

My first reaction was anger. I had given the letter a lot of thought, and she hadn't even had the courtesy to open it. How could she call herself my representative if she wasn't willing to hear from me? After this anger came apathy. "Well I won't do that again. Why take the time? What a waste of effort if what I have to share isn't even going to be considered."

I knew in my heart that neither anger nor apathy were qualities of God, so I prayed. I affirmed God's active role in my experience, knowing that His laws are always governing and always in operation. We're never really in the hands of mortal representatives; we're governed by God. The Bible counsels, "O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth" (Ps. 67:4).

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