Alabama Politics in
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NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and links to the columns are not typically otherwise available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.

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Senate Sketches # 1058

By

Senator Hank Sanders

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Prayer is powerful. Prayer is powerful because of God. But prayer would be powerful even if there were no God. Prayer is that powerful.

My pastor, Dr. C.A. Lett says there is a difference between saying a prayer and praying. Too often we just go through the motion when we say prayers. In praying, we reach deep within ourselves touching every element of our beings and forging an humble spirit.

Humbleness is key to prayer. We start by bowing our heads, closing our eyes and kneeling, standing or assuming other positions of reverence. We then acknowledge the vast significance of God compared to our relative insignificance. We humble ourselves, unleashing our power within and without.

When I pray earnestly, I am saying, “God, I can’t do this by myself. It’s too much for me. I need help. I need your help.” It’s powerful to admit our limitations when such admissions move us to seek help.

It humbles me when I admit to myself and to God that I cannot do it without help. This admission is even more important when we hold positions of leadership, influence and real or perceived power. Because others think we can do it and convey such beliefs to us, we start thinking that we can. But each time we admit that we need help beyond ourselves, we are humbled. That’s why prayer would be powerful even if there were no God.

In my earnest prayers, I am saying “God, I thank you for each and every blessing, those I see and those I can neither perceive nor conceive.” When we are thankful, we are admitting to God and ourselves that we did not do it by ourselves; that we had great help. We are admitting that we are mere vessels, if that much, through which the blessings flowed. Being truly thankful humbles us, keeping us from getting the big head. That’s why prayer would be powerful even if there were no God.

In my earnest prayers, I am saying, “God forgive me for I have fallen short; I have missed the mark. No matter how hard I try, I still fall short. No matter how well I do, I still miss the mark.” Admission that we fall short and therefore need forgiveness helps us to recognize that others also fall short, miss the mark, and need forgiveness. When we forgive, it may or may not help those we forgive but it always helps us in relationship to ourselves and those connected to us. (Not to speak of our relationship to God). That’s why prayer would be powerful even if there were no God.

When I pray earnestly, I am saying, “God, guide me. Guide me because my intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom are not sufficient to perceive the dangers, seen and unseen, that lurk along the path.” Earnest prayer opens us up to other possibilities. Sometimes we have strong feelings about routes we should take or action we should take that seem neither logical nor reasonable. When we seek guidance, we make allowances for such feelings and possibilities. We “lean not on our understanding.” That’s why prayer would be powerful even if there were no God.

When I pray earnestly, I am saying, “God, strengthen me for sometimes I know the way but can’t go the way. Sometimes the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Sometimes the obstacles seem too great to overcome.” By asking for strength, we admit that we are not strong enough even when we know what to do. We open up untapped reservoirs within us that are clogged by our own emotional scum. That’s why prayer would be powerful even if there were no God.

When I pray earnestly, I am saying, “God take me out of the way of myself. Take my ego and self concept, my needs and greeds, my hopes and fears, my loves and hates, my this and that out of the way.” Sometimes the answers we seek are already there, staring us in the face. We, however, cannot perceive them for we block our own perceptions. Prayer takes us out of the way of ourselves. That’s why earnest prayer would be powerful even if there were no God.

Of course, I would not pray if I did not believe there was a God. And neither would you. So, at the least, we would have to believe there is a God for prayer to be powerful even if there were no God.

I believe that when we humble ourselves, our spirits reach out to connect with God’s ever reaching spirit, drawing power from that spirit. But there would be no such connection regardless of how much we prayed if there were no God. Prayer is powerful within us, but is so much more powerful when it connects with the real God inside and outside of us.

Now on to the Daily Diary.

Saturday - I facilitated the Unity Breakfast and worked for several hours on various matters. I then headed to Talladega for the “Cousins Family Reunion,” an event organized by the grandchildren of my father and mother, Sam and Ola Mae Sanders. At the gathering, I communicated profusely, ate heartily and watched lots of sports on television before returning to Selma late in the night.

Sunday - I did Radio Sunday School before traveling to Siloam Baptist Church in Orrville to teach the Men and Women Sunday School class. I also reviewed the lesson for all the classes before returning to Selma for services at Calvary. I talked with various leaders including Louvenia Lumpkin, Pastor Roosevelt Marzette, and Sharon Wheeler of the Senate President Pro Tem’s Office. I worked through the evening and into the night.

Monday - I labored all day on Labor Day working on Sketches and various other matters. I also talked with the following: Dr. Carol P. Zippert of the Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC); Lester Brown of the Greene County Board of Education; Youlanda Curtis of Washington County; and businessman Rick Graham of Birmingham. I actually stopped working about 6:00 p.m. and went home about 4 - 5 hours earlier than usual.

Tuesday - I finished Sketches, worked on various matters and talked with the following: Godfrey King of Wallace Community College; Senator E.B. McClain; Lowndes County Commission Chair Charlie King; Andrew Reed; Lowndes County Administrator Jackie Thomas; Rita Lett of Wallace Community College; Wayne Vardaman of the Selma Centre of Commerce; Sally Howell of the Alabama Association of School Boards; Dave White of the Birmingham News; School Superintendent Isaac Atkins of Greene County; J.L. Chestnut, Jr. of Selma about mass communications; Dr. James Mitchell, President of Wallace Community College; Rev. Joseph Mason of Greene County; Bill Minor of the Dallas County School Board; Theresa Pearson of Dothan; Horace Brown of Selma who is out of the hospital; Joyce Bigbee of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO); former Lowndes County School Superintendent Eli Seaborn; and Paul Hamrick of Montgomery.

Wednesday - I traveled to Montgomery for meetings with the following: Auburn University’s new President Dr. Jay Gogue and his lobbyist, Sherrie Fulford; the Education Bond Incentive funds Commission; Joyce Bigbee; and Representative Richard Lindsey and State School Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton. I returned to Selma to host the Radio Program Law Lessons and participated in three other meetings including one with Lowndes County Commissioners Charlie King and Robert Harris about economic development. I talked with these additional persons: Lorraine Capers of Selma; Autherine Tyre, who is in the hospital; former ANSC President Barbara Pitts; and Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom, Jr. I also participated in a late night conference call with ANSC leaders.

Thursday - I talked with the following: Dr. Carol P. Zippert; Lowndes County School superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd; Scott Absher of the Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries Office; Senator Larry Means of Gadsden; Perry County Circuit Clerk Mary Cosby Moore; Drayton Pruitt of Sumter County; and Kirk and Carolyn Wheeler of Chattanooga, TN. I also participated in another conference call with two other ANSC leaders.

Friday - I commenced writing Sketches, worked on many matters, and talked with the following: White Hall Mayor John Jackson; Rev. Lawrence Wofford of Selma; Sam Walker of the National Voting Rights Museum; Chip Hill of the Lieutenant governor’s Office; Glen Rushing of the Clinton Campaign; Will Wright of the Alabama State Troopers; Oscar Kyles; and lobbyist Andre Reid. I shared lunch with former Judge J. C. Norton and met with Dr. Carol P. Zippert on ANSC matters. I traveled to Mobile to Speak at Oscar Kyles Retirement Celebration from the Alabama State Troopers. I returned to Selma late into the night.

EPILOGUE - The higher we go in life, the more we need prayer. Every success makes us think we can do it ourselves because we already did so much. Prayer helps us know that we had lots of help. Prayer is even more powerful the more successful we become.

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