National Day of Prayer

Wednesday, September 25, 2018 - This morning, outside of thousands of schools among the world stood students and teachers, gathering around flagpoles to pray for each other's strength and the wellbeing of their country, worship through songs, and read uplifting scripture before their school day would begin. Now, we stand: looking back on the meaning of this uplifting wonder.

The nationally recognized event, See You at the Pole, is a profoundly influential movement across a wide range of the people spectrum. Obviously, the students who participate in praying around the flagpole have a boost of the Holy Spirit to keep them going throughout their day; however, the benefit goes far beyond just that audience. For some, the trickle effect takes place, transforming its impact and carrying it to others in ways nobody thought possible. For example, perhaps if a student were to attend the prayer circle around the flagpole, they would have an incredible start to their school day, possibly putting a smile on their face. As a past underclassman, I understand the power of an upperclassman’s smile… those used to make my day. That smile could change someone’s day, and where did it root? See You at the Pole.

You may still be left wondering, why did this event start? Where did this all begin? In early 1990, a small group of teenagers gathered together and sought to find God in their lives. That same evening, they drove to three different schools around their area in Burleson, Texas, to pray with each other for their friends, family, and that they would be able to show the love of God through their daily deeds. Soon after their actions, God developed them so much more than just a few weeks later, more than 45,000 teenagers across four states did this too. Now, as a global activity, it’s greater than they ever could have predicted.

One school, Licking Valley High School, as well as others in the county participated, doing the work of the Lord by praying before the bell rang. In speaking to one of those students, Kendall Miller, a junior here at LVHS, she informed me that, to her, See You at the Pole is “an international movement of [people] sharing [their] faith and coming together to embrace that.” She also mentioned, “[This event] makes me feel closer to my classmates and teacher who participate and share the same beliefs as me.” Miller looks forward to the event and can’t wait to see next year’s outcome. See You at the Pole may be something that some look down on, whether that be for religious reasons, their disbelief in public expression of prayer, or even just thinking it is an unnecessary activity; but, as someone who was brought up in the church, learning the fundamental values of an exceptional person, and idolizing my personality goals after Jesus himself, I see it as a step in the right direction for our world. To see people who come together to lift up The Lord is a notable doing, one that other Christians should take part in and admire.