When I was a kid and used to go to church every Sunday, I'd see all those people pray around me. I did try to pray. I closed my eyes and tried "talking to God" or whatever it was the priest taught us to do. Pray to God, talk to Jesus in your heart he will answer you. (I think it was early lessons in wishful thinking, but who knows). It never worked for me. I'd try saying things like the Hail Mary, Our Father over and over again, close my eyes, think about God (i.e a fat jolly man with a bear, sitting on a cloud), whatever. It never did work. I also saw praying as a business deal : "I'll pray right now so I'll get some candy later".
And yet, all those people around me, they were really into it. I mean you'd think that by praying they had access to a higher level of consciousness or that their souls were transported somewhere high above. I don't know. I never asked anyone how they prayed, what did they pray for, etc.
So now I'm asking you, all those of you who pray : who do you pray to? how do you pray? do you do it at certain times of the day, do you do it in certain places, indoor, outdoor..? what actually happens when you pray? or, I think it all boils down to : what is prayer?
I don't know, when I think about it, prayer sounds to me like introspection + a bit of wishful thinking. But then again, I don't think I've ever really "prayed".
