Should I pray for this man? A reflection on praying

Should I pray for this man? A reflection on praying

I recently received news that an acquaintance of mine had passed away. We were not friends, but for several months last year, we saw each other fairly regularly.

He had a unique personality, having been a stand-up comedian and becoming a self-proclaimed nihilistic atheist. Knowing this about him and hearing of his death, I started to reflect on how best to honor his life.

He adamantly opposed my faith and views on life. I had heard that in the past, he had done some less-than-desirable things. The question arose within me: should I pray for this man? I began to reflect on what little I knew of him and then zoomed out a little. In doing that, I reminded myself that this man was a husband, a father, and a friend. There were people in his life who loved and missed him now that he was gone.

He was a man and, as such, should be treated as any other: with kindness and respect. After zooming out, I zoomed in. I reminded myself that no one is perfect, and I should respect the beliefs that he had in life. The whole point of our faith is not just to pray for those whom we love but for those whom we differ from, too. As such, I’m praying that he may rest in peace and that his family is adjusting to him being gone. Perhaps they believe that he is in a better place, something which I sincerely hope for him and all of us.