Smoke on the horizon, all’s well at home | Garrison Keillor

“I have friends whose grandchildren keep them awake at night, friends who gave up religion long ago but who still believe in prayer because what else is there? Your beloved granddaughter has schizophrenia and you, a former atheist, switch to agnosticism so you can say, ‘Dear God, please look down on Angelina who is living in a bad dream and show her Your love.'”

Prayer is something to which even unbelievers can turn to in times of crisis. This is not a universal rule, but prayer seems to be something to which we are oriented, regardless of our religious formation.