January 3, 2006

The Prayer

"Do you pray before your meals?"
"Yes."
"Always?"
"Yes."

There was a pause as Dr. Yuen thought how to phrase his next words.

"Do you sometimes pray out loud?"
"Yes."
"Could you pray out loud now?"
"Certainly."

Dr. Yuen looked across the table at our other eating companion, Dr. Leu, as if securing affirmation of a pre-planned commitment. Both smiled, and then Dr. Leu touched the back of my hand.

"Make it a long prayer," he said with a wink.

Both physicians closed their eyes and waited for me to begin.

We were in a private dining room deep in Beijing's Military Medical University. My companions were leaders and administrators at the university, friends I had come to respect as we had worked together on providing English language classes for the Interns and Residents in the university hospital. Though both had asked questions about my Christian faith away from their workplace, this was the first time they had raised religion at the university.

Servers waited to meet our needs and armed guards stood at a discreet distance from our table. All appeared busy as I bowed my head.

"Lord, this may be my only chance to share the Gospel with my friends." I prayed silently. "Help me pray the right words."

I have no idea how long I prayed, but I tried to carefully cover the essentials.

1. God loves you and has a plan for your life.
2. His greatest desire is for you to join Him in living the best life possible.
3. Since you cannot do that without Him, He sent Jesus to show you the way.
4. When you accept Him as leader in your life, He gives everything necessary for you to live Life as He lives it!
5. The greatest joy is living as one who is Loved by God.

I said "Amen," and looked into the beaming eyes of two very satisfied listeners.

Dick Duerksen
Assistant Vice President
Mission development
Florida Hospital