me, your main objective was just to complete the assignment and receive a grade. But, if you dragged out those school textbooks, and re-read some of the classics as an adult, you might discover some interesting and inspiring gems.
Take the work by Alfred, Lord Tennyson which includes the phrase, "more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." Take the time to read and dissect the rest of what he wrote. For example:
More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day.
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not hands
of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of
God.
-Alfred, Lord Tennyson
He tells us first that many things are accomplished by prayer of which we
are totally unaware. Then he requests that prayers be offered "like a fountain"
for him. Then, he says that if we know God, and we are not lifting our hands in
prayer both for ourselves and our friends, then we’re not any better than sheep
or goats which have no capacity for thinking about God. Finally, Tennyson
compares the prayers of believers to "gold chains" wrapped around the "feet of
God," which hold the world together.
Now go back and reread Tennyson’s poem. Makes more sense now, doesn’t it?
You might even discover that you actually ENJOY it this time around!
--Rocky Henriques, www.uticabc.com