This issue of intent started me thinking about control. Much like the news bites that annoyingly scroll across the bottom of the TV screen during the cable news broadcasts, countless bits of randomness (What do I want for lunch? Toilet paper roll placement; the paper should always go over. Did I turn off the coffee maker?) cross our gray matter. We have little control over these things that seem to pop into our consciousness.

I've heard it said, "Thought is a form of prayer." Interesting. By that definition, every word, thought, and idea is a prayer. Taking this one step farther, if we are unable to control our words, thoughts, and ideas, how or why do we think we can control the words, thoughts, and ideas in others? It simply cannot be done, and thus represents an exercise in futility. Like this fall's hemlines and the latest opinions on U.S. immigration policy, prayer is both ever evolving and distinctly personal.

When I was nine-years-old, prayer was oral, happened in church, and indicated either the beginning or end of the sermon. I did not give much thought to the meaning behind the words. At thirty-nine, prayer, for me, has evolved from a speech signaling transitions in weekly gatherings to the way I communicate with God, paying a bit more attention to those countless bits of randomness.

Mahwainah, the voices and the survey responses have led me to think about how I view the acts and intentions of others. As for attempting to figure out someone's prayer modus operandi, who really has the time? If someone is kind enough to include me while communing with The Big Guy, I say any publicity is good publicity.