Prayer

Suddenly, prayer is a live subject. People you would not imagne engaging in heartfelt prayer are asking God to help a premiership footballer survive heart failure. Patrice Luamba, aged 23, collapsed while playing for Bolton Wanderers and was rushed to hospital, the watching crowd at Tottenham, Hotspur's ground stunned into silence as he was treated on the pitch. Players from both sides were on their knees in prayer when they realised how serious his condition was. Muamba's heart stopped working for some hours, and at the time of writing there are reports that he is beginning to show signs of recovery, and has started talking again. Everybody concerned is at prayer for him, because that is all that people feel they can do to help. The professional skills of surgeons at the London Chest Hospital have obviously been effective so far, although their patient is seriously ill. Everybody else is still praying. One of the most moving messages is from his fiancee Shauna Muganda, writing on twitter: 'All your prayers are working, people.Thank you so much. Every prayer makes him stronger.'  A fellow footballer, Gary Cahill, unveiled a message on his tee shirt after scoring a goal. 'Pray 4 Muamba'. It is clear that prayer is still a huge part of people's lives when they face uncertainty about what else might help. Those of us who promote prayer as a normal part of the life of faith may be encouraged to see all this, and while joining their prayers for a young man in desperate trouble, will be intrigued to see that thousands who do not  appear to be people of prayer turn to it in extremity. Irrespective of  belief or religious commitment, they obviously think prayer 'works'.