Melanie is looking after Truthful Tuesday while Frank takes a break. This week she asks:
DO YOU THINK THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS SENT TO VICTIMS OF DISASTERS OR MAYHEM ARE WORTH THE EFFORT?
IF NOT, PLEASE GIVE YOUR REASONING.
IF SO, GIVE YOUR REASONING TOO.
I think that the expression “thoughts and prayers” has become a bit of a cliche, so often said by politicians who are just paying lip service rather than actually doing anything useful. When I hear it, I tend to shrug unless it’s accompanied by actual practical help.
Our former PM was a great one for “thoughts and prayers” but victims of bushfires and floods are still waiting to get their homes rebuilt or receive other promised help.
Your politicians in the USA, many of them anyway, are quick to send thoughts and prayers to the families of shooting victims instead of maybe doing something about GETTING RID OF THE GUNS.
I am not religious, in fact the older I get the less time I have for organised religion. Too many church leaders seem to be either in it for the money or telling people what they can’t do instead of showing love and helping others. I should probably save my feelings about religion generally for a different post.
Having got that off my chest I do think that thoughts and prayers when accompanied by real practical help is worth the effort and thankfully there are many individuals and groups including church communities who do help others.
During the pandemic I heard of a group from the Sikh community in Melbourne who delivered free food to people in lockdown. Not just their own community, anyone who needed it. There are people who have worked tirelessly helping people and their pets who were evacuated from natural disaster areas. There are people in countries adjacent to Ukraine who have a well organised relief operation going on for refugees from that country.
I have contributed small amounts, that I can afford, to help people or communities in need. I sign petitions and sometimes write letters or send emails in support of a cause. It’s not a lot but it’s better than just feeling bad about it and praying, I think.
Our Other Blog: Two Sisters and Two Points of View 
I also do the best I can, but with prices soaring and a fixed income which is a lot less money now than it was a few months ago, it’s getting pretty scary. I donate a couple of hundred dollars a year — doled out in very small amounts — to organizations that are trying to save wildlife. I can barely manage that and now I’m beginning to seriously worry about how we will heat this house come winter. I suppose we’ll find a way, somehow. I thought things were supposed to get EASIER when you retired. What happened?
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I don’t know. Nothing seems to get any easier does it? We have to buy a new heater and have the money for it but do you think we can get anyone to come and give us a measure and quote? It’s almost impossible to get a tradie these days.
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I think actions are needed more than prayers.
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