Prayer Day speakers told a wonderful story

THE 2008 NATIONAL DAY of Prayer event May 1 in Odessa proved at least one thing. More people will show up for lunch than for breakfast.

The annual event, which was reinstituted here in the mid-1990s when Lorraine Perryman was mayor, drew some 600 people to the MCM Grande Fun Dome. This is more than twice the number of people who have attended recent prayer day events and was about 200 more than at any of the previous events, as Poor William remembers them.

Since arriving in Odessa in 1994, PW has attended all but one of the prayer day events. The startup of the then-breakfasts is one of the things that made PW and Miss Kitty so proud to be a new resident of this city.

Mayors Mike Atkins, the late Bill Hext and Larry Melton continued holding what Perryman kicked off, but only Melton has held a "luncheon." In PW's opinion, this was a master stroke; the only thing wrong with the previous events was having to show up (pardon PW) at an "ungodly hour."

Most of the production of newspapers distributed in the morning is done at night. That means that for years PW went to sleep with the hoot owls and surely didn't get up with the chickens. To this day he does not like "breakfast meetings." And now as a retiree, he can boycott them.

So, hats off to Mayor Melton for proving what PW has long contended. Unless you are a farmer (there are few in these here parts), you probably prefer showing up for meetings at the time of day most real Texans call "dinner."

By the way, at many times PW and MK prefer to eat breakfast at supper (what Yankees call "dinner"). And the best morning meal, of course, is a "breakfast burrito."

Writing all of this is making PW awfully hungry!

BUT LET'S GET BACK to the National Day of Prayer: It was mentioned at the mayor's luncheon that it really cranked up in 1988.

That's when Ronald Reagan signed an amended law that "permanently set the day as the first Thursday of every May," according to the NDP Internet site.

However, in 1952 Harry Truman signed a joint congressional resolution that designated an "annual, national day of prayer." Actually, though, the day's heritage dates to 1775 "when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation" and 1863 when Abraham Lincoln declared a day of "humiliation, fasting and prayer."

This 233-year-old tradition never should be allowed to die. Considering world events, especially the terrorism that has replaced "war," PW finds it difficult to believe there ever could be too much prayer.

IN THAT RESPECT, a "Mayor's Top Seven Prayer Needs for our Community" card was made available to every person attending the day of prayer luncheon. It reads:
"1. A growing and steadfast faith in our individual supreme being.
"2. A better understanding of and attention to the needs of the less fortunate.
"3. Wisdom and leadership abilities for our elected officials.
"4. Dedicated and professional public employees.
"5. Continued growth and prosperity for our community.
"6. A safer and more peaceful world, nation, state and community.
"7. Support of those organizations which serve to better the lives of others."
To these PW can only say, "Amen."

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, the mayor's prayer luncheon featured a great program. Ron Hall and Denver Moore are a dynamic duo and PW is anxious to see the movie that will be made from their best-selling book, "Same Kind of Different As Me."

It is a tribute to what one person's faith, dedication and purpose can initiate even in a large city. That person was Hall's wife, Debbie, who died after a 16-month fight with cancer, but not until she changed her husband's life and that of Moore, a "bad man" who spent some 25 years of homelessness on Fort Worth's streets.

The inspiring words of Hall and Moore marked the 300th time they had told their story at events across the nation. It was announced that their next stop was to be at the White House, where they again will tell their unique story and be honored by George W. and Laura Bush.

The wonderful message PW and 599 others heard at the prayer day luncheon is much too long to be told here. Basically, though, it's the story of a determined, Christian woman whose dreams united and changed two completely different men.

PW bought a copy of the book that tells this story to give Miss Kitty on this special day, since she couldn't attend the luncheon. Maybe it won't give her too many ideas on how to change Poor William.

HAVE A SUPER MOTHER'S DAY and a wonderful week!

 Mail can be sent to 620 N. Grant, Suite 913, Odessa, TX 79761.

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