Louisiana Literally Praying for Oil Spill Relief

As the oil continued to gush from the broken oil well into the Gulf of Mexico, lawmakers in Louisiana decided to try a different approach. To that point, all attempts by British Petroleum to stop the leak had failed. So they decided to inact a day of prayer.

“Thus far efforts made by mortals to try to solve the crisis have been to no avail,” state Sen. Robert Adley said in a statement released after last week’s unanimous vote for the day of prayer. “It is clearly time for a miracle for us.”

The resolution names Sunday as a statewide day of prayer in Louisiana and calls on people of all religions throughout the Gulf Coast “to pray for an end to this environmental emergency, sparing us all from the destruction of both culture and livelihood.”

Prayer was not an excuse for personal inaction; as they prayed, government rescue efforts continued to save wildlife affected by the spill. Yet was it appropriate for the government to mandate an official day of prayer?

Despite the resolution, I wonder how many people actually followed through and prayed. Was it just a feel-good vote, or did those who voted in favor of it believe it would make a real difference? And does it matter what or who people are praying to? The resolution “calls on people of all religions” to pray. While seeking to be tolerant and inclusive of all religions, it does raise the question of whether all religions are basically the same.

If you have ever felt the need to pray (whether you are in Louisiana or not) but weren’t sure how, you can contact a mentor who will be happy to pray with you, or just talk privately and patiently about what’s on your mind.

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