As I listened—with possibly millions of other people—to the accounts of the space shuttle Columbia's last flight, my first thoughts were with the astronauts and their families. But I also thought of a friend in Palestine, Texas, where news reports said debris had fallen.
Was he all right? I dialed his number, but couldn't get through, no doubt because thousands of other people were calling friends and family in Texas to find out if they were all right. So I trusted my friend to God. Later I learned that debris had fallen nearby, but he and his home were safe. One of the amazing things about the fall of debris over such a wide area was that no one anywhere on its route was injured or killed. Some people might say that it was a random outcome; I believe that prayer made a difference.
Whether one is near or far from the scene of disaster, steady, silent prayer gives strength to all who are involved. It provides the discernment that enables people on the scene to notice details that are vital. Prayer also enables one to be where one cannot go physically. Prayer cannot be stopped by torn up roads, "do not cross signs," time, or distance. Neither state lines nor international boundaries can stop prayer.
