I grew up feeling pretty exposed

and helpless

and alone.

Somehow, the idea of "getting things done" and helping when people hurt or are afraid - stuck.

And in this time when the winds have blown down

the city where wealth, glamor, and power once reigned - I cannot forget the people who have lost children

homes

friends

family

livelihoods

histories

neighborhoods

perspective...hope.

What can I do to help? 

What can we do?

Enter the Prayer Ninjas (see the awesome photo above).

It sometimes seems so small and slight and lame

even to those of us who live and die by the prayers sent

walking

driving

running

midnight waking

working

grocery shopping...

But Prayer Ninjas - though sometimes discouraged -

have this hope

that the God they cannot see

intimately loves them

and the crazy neighbors

enough to invest time

and spirit...pneuma

in their ninja lives.

Most folks who pray

who knock 

or whack on God's door

with faith 

and abandon

are called "prayer warriors."

I prefer Prayer Ninjas.

"A ninja or shinobi was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan who specialized in unorthodox warfare. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, and open combat in certain situations." (Wikipedia)

We are in a war

where despair

and violence

and torment

seek to rule the day

and night.

Prayer ninjas know that they do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the forces of the unseen enemy that comes to steal and destroy. 

The Message puts it this way (in Ephesians 6:10 -12)  minus the ninja references:

A Fight to the Finish

And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

So if despair

or pain

or fear stalks you 

and judgment jerks you around,

remember that you are a Ninja

a Prayer Ninja at least

and you can call out all of heaven to come to your aid

or the aid of folks far away 

awash in pain and dislocation

or nearby

and so alone 

that their teeth hurt

and they wonder if today should be their last.

Pray.

You've got the power.

And if you aren't too sure about this praying thing

call on someone who's life reveals some Prayer Ninja-ness

(look for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control)

And ask them for help.

They may offer to stop, drop, and pray 

with you or for you

or pray as they practice their nunchuking

or stealth.

It's your call.

But make the "call"

If you have something funky in your life 

something that follows you around like a rabid dog

or you know of needs

in a friend

stranger

or even a "rival's" life

try your hand at becoming a Prayer Ninja.

The second coolest thing about prayer is that it is personal

private

and NEVER professional.

God just wants to have a relationship with you.

To hang out

to help out

to lead

and to love you.

Prayer is a good first step to that relationship

and to helping out

folks in need.

And no Ninja 

mastered it on the first go.

So get out there and kick some evil upside the head.