I remember seeing students do this when I was in high school.  The profoundness of it never hit me back then like it did this morning.

For those who are unfamiliar, See You At The Pole is a global day of student prayer.  It is celebrated on the fourth Wednesday every September. Some schools have large rallies, while others have a single student taking a stand for Jesus. Before school, the group gathers at the flagpole and lifts up their school, teachers, peers, etc in prayer. The emphasis is on it being a student-led gathering, but there is a lot of parent assistance with younger students.

This was the first year I participated.  I texted a few friends to make sure I wasn’t alone (safety in numbers!), loaded up my kids, and we headed to the school.  After some insanity involving my neighbor’s dog jumping into my car, we showed up a few minutes late…and I was happily surprised with the size of the group already encircling the flagpole.

I walked up as a wonderfully bold woman opened us in prayer.  It was beautiful, and she said all the right words. She didn’t stumble or mumble. She didn’t accidentally say something inappropriate or choke on her spit–all things I worry about with public speaking if this is sounding oddly specific. I began to compare myself to her and a brief bitterness came over me.  I was missing the moment as my mind alternated between tearing myself down and tearing her down.

My whole body shuddered–possibly from the chill in the air, but I like to think it physically shook off Satan and my nasty sinful tendencies. I began to pray silently, because that’s safer.  I said “Lord, I want to pray.  I don’t want to sit here and long for the ability these other women possess, I want to just do it! Give me the words, Father.”  And then, remembering Hebrews 13:6,  I opened my mouth and prayed aloud. My first time praying in front of others voluntarily. It felt so good.

Our small group continued to pray over our school. Prayers for protection of our students, boldness of those who follow Jesus to share Him with others, thanksgiving for the teachers we have that are already believers, and prayers for the redemption of those that aren’t.  And while we were all there from different neighborhoods and churches, we were unified in our love for the Lord and our commitment to praying for our school.  It was such a great reminder that we are all adopted sons and daughters of the King, and our siblings in Christ reach beyond the walls of where we choose to worship each Sunday.  And on this crisp 4th Wednesday of September, you could feel the spirit of the Lord upon us.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” -Matthew 18:20