Quite often at parties, just when people are balancing plates of kebabs, laughing loudly, and trying not to spill soft drinks on expensive sarees, somebody suddenly shouts across the room, “Bob, will you say a prayer?”
Immediately there is silence.
The music volume drops.
People straighten themselves as if God only listens to people standing correctly.
And then all eyes turn towards me.
Now some people may feel awkward at such moments. Some may feel the mood of the party is being interrupted. But strangely, I love it.
Why?
Because I have never believed prayer is meant to separate us from joy. I believe prayer is meant to include God in our joy.
There is a big difference.
Many people think prayer means everybody must suddenly become serious. Faces become long. Voices become heavy. Children are told not to laugh. Somebody quickly hides his beer glass, as if drinks and holiness cannot coexist together.
But I do not think God sits in heaven disturbed because people are happy.
I think He created happiness.
I think He enjoys seeing people enjoying themselves.
So when I pray at a gathering, I do not suddenly try to turn a birthday party into a funeral service. I usually smile and say something like, “The Organiser of this lovely evening is now joining the party. Let us welcome Him in!”
And somehow the whole atmosphere changes.
Not into solemnity.
Into warmth.
Into joy.
Yesterday I was at the eighty fifth birthday celebration of Dorothy D’Souza, the mother of a dear friend. There was music, dancing, laughter, old stories being repeated for the seventeenth time, and a grandchild who had turned a mother, cooing to her baby.
Then somebody asked me to pray.
I looked at Dorothy smiling happily in the middle of her family and suddenly realised something beautiful. Prayer at that moment was not a ritual. It was gratitude.
It was saying, “Thank you God for eighty-five years of life. Thank you for family. Thank you for friendship. Thank you for laughter. Thank you that this dear lady can still smile with such sparkle in her eyes.”
And after the prayer, did I see the party become dull?
Not at all.
It became even more cheerful.
People laughed louder.
Dorothy smiled brighter.
The dancing became more energetic.
Because perhaps everybody felt the same thing. That the Giver of joy had quietly walked into the room and joined the celebration.
Somewhere along the way we have misunderstood prayer. We have made it sound like a legal appointment with heaven instead of a conversation with a loving God.
Prayer is not only for hospital rooms and funerals.
Prayer belongs at dining tables, birthday cakes, anniversaries, weddings, picnics and family gatherings too.
Because prayer is not interruption.
Prayer is invitation.
And certainly, life becomes most beautiful when in the middle of our happiest moments, we quietly look up and say, “Lord, come join us too..!”