Free Choice: God Is in The Pancakes 2

Great choice of what to read first! I'm really enjoying this so far. I'm very interested in the way Grace unconsciously tries to connect with her father through prayer. As we discussed with Mr.McDaniels, religion can be a way of comforting yourself by putting tough decisions in the hands of a higher power. Grace is avoiding making a choice by asking God for a miracle cure. She's starting to get frustrated that her wish is not being granted, until she meets the strange man in the chapel the day she cuts school. 

  

"Can I ask you a question?" I say suddenly.

“Oh." He blinks. “Sure."

‘I mean, if this is too personal, just tell me to shut up or whatever “

He laughs a little. “Now you’ve got my attention."

“Do you think this works?” I motion to the pews, the altar. When he doesn’t answer right away, I figure I need to be more specific. “The praying. I mean, do you really think anyone’s listening?”

“Yes,” he says, nodding his head “But I suppose that’s going to be the answer you get from most people you’d find in a church.”

"Dumb question, I know "

“No, no, I didn’t mean that. I just meant that that’s probably just the knee-jerk reaction you’d get from most people. People don’t really like to think about it because it’s more reassuring to them to have a definite answer. Having an answer is a comfort. It’s when you start asking questions and those questions pull threads in the larger fabric, you’re forced to wonder what you’re left with. And for people of any age, it’s scary to think the fabric of the universe—or the universe as you’ve always believed it existed—can just unwind, you know?”

“Yep.” I start thinking of all the “absolutes” that used to exist for me. I realize my head is tilting to the side as I try to figure out if he just told me he believed in prayer because it’s easier to believe that or because he really really believes it does work. ”So do you think someone hears us or is listening when we pray?”

He smiles and I can see both the top and bottom rows of his teeth. “I’ve had moments of doubt. Of course I have. I don’t know how anyone can live in this world where, let’s face it, injustice takes place all the time, and not wonder if anyone‘s paving attention.” He shrugs “But what I keep coming

back to is the fact that life is so fragile, someone has to be looking out for us. At least in the most basic way. So for me, prayer is not just the asking of a favor—like ‘please God, let my mother be okay’—but as more of a thank you. A thank you for every minute I’ve had with her. I’m sure that kind of sounds corny, but it does help me appreciate the good things in my life. So when I say yeah, prayer works, it’s because I think that if all I’m doing here is expressing gratitude for her life, that‘s okay. That’s important."

This is the moment when Grace starts thinking seriously again about what Mr. Sands asked her to do, because she realizes that God doesn't do magic. Mr. Sands is not going to suddenly get better. The question is whether she feels that God is telling her to honor his request.