‘Private prayer is habit forming, make it part of your life and you will not want to live without it anytime soon. But it would be a mistake to think that it exhausts the possibilities of living the spiritual life. Besides praying by yourself there is much, much more.’ ~Barbara Cawthorne Crafton

It is good to take a moment for our own quiet prayer. It is quality time out that no one can take away from us, a moment when we can simply be ourselves. It allows us to be honest and express what ever is going on for us. But it is also good to pray as part of a community. Praying with others gives us the sense of a journey together and that we are not in isolation. Praying together allows us to support and encourage each other. Most of the major religions in the world actively encourage community participation. It is all about finding the balance between what is private and what we do together. Personal prayer gives so many comfort and a sense of purpose. But it can never be done exclusively on our own.