When I first began to work as reporter in Washington, DC, I was surprised to hear from veteran journalists that certain stories are considered "evergreens." No matter who's in the White House or which political party controls Congress, some issues can't seem to be resolved because they're the product, not of the leadership, but of the culture. They're systemic.
As the United States gears up for this fall's presidential election, it seems like a good time for the Journal to look at the role that prayer can play in improving institutions from the ground up. Rather than a "Who do I vote for" kind of prayer, this approach seeks to better one's government, no matter what the outcome of an election, by helping the whole system move toward a healthier, more productive model.
Of course, the need for systemic change isn't limited to Washington. People around the world deal with entrenched bureaucracies and the often crippling challenges they can bring. Yet Mary Baker Eddy had great faith in the power of prayer to correct even the most deeply-rooted difficulties. As she put it, "Truth is an alternative in the entire system, and can make it 'every whit whole.'" 1
