In the film Mr. Rogers, we watch him intercede for those he knows. How does he pray for them? He names their names. Slowly he savors the speaking of each name as if it were a summer pear ripe with prophetic promises, a gentle firstfruits proclamation of all that is to come.

And that’s it. That’s all he does. 

He even has the margin to swim laps while doing it. 

How is this prayer “effective” (Jas 5:16)? Would it not be more so if he picked up the cadence a bit, say, to the tempo of a Gatling gun with a few prayer points thrown up like Roman candles? Wouldn’t he “get ‘er done” better?

Apparently not.  For Mr. Rogers understands he is “the aroma of Christ to God” (2 Cor 2:15). An aroma does not need to be loud or long winded, it just needs to be well done. 

The Koreans have a saying: “A rattling wagon reveals it’s empty. But a silent wagon reveals valuable possessions.” 

Try praying like Mr. Rogers this week.

“May my prayer be set before you like incense, may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” ~ Psalm 141:2

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