I’ve heard that Gandhi was once quoted as saying: “I don’t reject Christ. It’s just that so many Christians are so unlike Christ.” Another variation of this quote is: “I would suggest first of all that all of you Christians and missionaries and everyone begin to live more like Jesus Christ.” Whether Gandhi said this or not, it’s a valid observation given where we are in society today. So how can Christians start acting more Christ-like? Perhaps folding our hands in prayer more regularly would be a good place to start.

As Catholics and Christians we should do more praying—not just in church, but in restaurants or dinner parties or even while working out at the gym. I often see families saying prayers in restaurants before sitting down for their meals. I find myself feeling very humbled that a family would chose to pray before their dinner just as they would do at home. I feel very comfortable if I’m invited to pray with someone else in a similar setting. One woman said, “If I say prayers with my family before meals at home, why would we not say thanks before meals elsewhere?”

“The Assertive Atheist” commented as follows: “Public prayer is not only embarrassingly inappropriate, it is a direct defiance of the alleged words of the alleged son of the alleged creator of the universe. (Matthew 5: 5-6) Public displays have less to do with petitioning god than with impressing bystanders.” (As a side note, I do find it thought-provoking that atheists appear intent on quoting the Bible when making their points.)

Richard J. Mauw writes in his book Praying at Burger King:

My restaurant prayers are opportunities for me to pause and remind myself there is a God whose mercy reaches out to me even when I’m sitting in a fast food booth with noisy kids running past me. I have a tendency to get so busy with what is right in front of me that I can ‘forget’ God. I need these times to remember that God is the center of all things.

It’s odd that this subject is so contentious. Why is it? With the number of people of faith in the world, why would praying publicly be wrong and even offensive? I think the answer is because it makes people feel uncomfortable. Admitting you are a person of prayer is uncomfortable. Even Christians onlookers often feel it’s inappropriate.

I’m not saying that a trip to a restaurant should turn into a prayer meeting.  I recognize it’s a public place. I’m merely suggesting we honor and respect those individuals that do this for their own personal reasons, whether they are in a restaurant or a gym or a church.

I read a comment by a waitress on this subject. She suggested that some of these families that are praying will sometimes be disrespectful in terms of their communication with the person waiting on them and even with their decision to leave a tip. Their actions appeared hypocritical to her.  I’m sure this is true in some cases.

I would like to point out one more important area where prayer is likely used often. How many public hospital rooms, operating rooms, and nursing homes and hospice centers and funeral homes are filled with people who call upon prayer during their most difficult moments? Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, doctors and nurses probably all have found themselves in situations where they need to stop and say a prayer. The fact is, life has moments where you just need to talk to God.

Pope Francis says:

The Lord tells us: the first task in life is this: prayer. But not the prayer of words like a parrot, but the prayer of the heart, gazing on the Lord, hearing the Lord, asking the Lord.

If prayer is your means of thanking God for your meal, your health, or your life: I applaud you!