Is prayer an action?

I have been wondering this as I observe the United Methodist Church's response to the earthquake in Haiti. The big response is first: pray. Then, we will figure out the next step.

I have to admit that I love this.

But I would guess that it gives us a certain sense of helplessness, this entire tragedy, this whole crisis. It is all so completely out of our control, and I know that we are a people who like to be in control of things. We are also a people who like to respond with "doing." We like to go and clean up or rebuild or do something.

Prayer seems so passive.

I wonder how many people, how many Christians, how many United Methodists have actually responded to this crisis with prayer. Gutteral, passionate prayer. Desperate, longing, bewildered prayer. How many of us are falling on our knees throughout the day as we are continuously overwhelmed by the news, by the grief, by the destruction? How many of us are praying fervently for a call to serve in some way, for a call to help in the restoration and the healing?

How many of us actually see prayer as an action?

(By the way, prayer is still the first response but not the only response. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is accepting donations for recovery and development. 100% of the money that you donate to UMCOR goes to the actual project; there is nothing taken out for overhead. You can donate through your church or do it online here.)