My wish, our prayers

Our Chinese brothers and sisters celebrate their New Year. And even if times are so hard, it’s like we don't have a choice but to be optimistic, look at everything's bright side and look forward to better days. We have the usual wishes, such as good health, love, blessings, and much more. For us and for others, we have infinite wishes.

If we think about it, wishes are actually pretty significant. Before blowing out their birthday candles, remember how often people pause. They think about what they're going to do, and they know, deep down, the desire says something about who they are and what they want. George Eliot said, "It seems to me that we can never give up longing and wishing with we are thoroughly alive."

While we are living and breathing and doing and being here on this earth, it's pretty hard not to wish for that. It's hard not to want things, to talk about things. Such wishes are different for everyone. Everyone is distinctive in what we want, but the concept behind the desire is the same. We want something more than what we've got.

We need to be inspired by wishes, to drive us on to action. We need them to describe who we are and what we want from ourselves, from our lives, and from the people who are around us. Wishes aren't really concentrated on the moment. We think about what we want to have/do/be in the future when we want to, not what we have or are right now. Are wishes causing us to live in an unreal moment? Are they causing us to look to something else, something we think will be better, as a solution for what we are faced with right now?

Indeed, last year has brought us challenges, pains, hardships that either brought us down or made us stronger. Future problems are unavoidable and, even if we have learned so much from past, we could be worse than before or just a walk in the park for some.

On the other hand, prayer is the way of maintaining a faith that can grow frail at times. The power of prayer to hear our God speak is enriching, uplifting. Praying is offering thanks, asking for mercy, and hoping for the best.

Wish is more individual and can be shallow and has no deeper relationship. But if combined with prayers that can preferably be communal in nature, it can transform and transcend to a higher level of domain. Collective prayer is altruistic. It goes beyond what one wants for oneself. It's also necessary to abandon one's interests to give way to others.

Biblical literature tells us that if we humble ourselves and pray and seek his face and turn away from our evil ways, if we who are called by his name, he will hear from heaven and forgive our sins and heal our land.

A company of people who pray is a company of individuals equally reliant on God. Together, praying will lead to a revival. Revival leads to praying together at all times.

The Church is not just a roster of people who pray privately; it is a group that should pray together. We pray for the healing of others together, for what is better for them. And the welfare of others over oneself, which is uncommon today, takes great courage and sacrifice.