By Abe Villarreal

I met a guy named Dennis on a street corner in Chicago the other day. I was in town for a few days, mostly attending conference sessions about higher education. Each speaker had something to say about something that he or she wanted us to know.

There was a lot to know about a lot of things, and just when you think you've had your fill of knowing something new, you end up learning something outside the conference that you really needed to know.

When not in the conference sessions, I did a lot of walking. A few snowflakes on the first day were followed by wind, rain, and cold weather. Not walking weather, but you are in Chicago when you are there, so I did a lot of walking.

There are many dramatic contrasts in big cities you don't see in small towns. The tininess you feel standing next to skyscrapers. The constant change of the community that wants to celebrate its long-ago history. The differences between what you are learning inside to what you are experiencing outside.

Dennis reminded me of that. He told me to pray for him. That was the first thing he said after I asked him his name. "My name is Dennis. Next time you pray, pray for Dennis."

"I will," I told him. "God bless you." I said a prayer as I walked away so that I wouldn't forget it. Most people on street corners ask for other things. Tangible things they can feel or touch. Money, food, a ride, a bus ticket. They don't ask for prayer.

It takes courage to ask someone to pray for you. Someone that you don't even know. Or maybe it takes desperation. Prayer is something private, something spiritual. It can be done in many different ways, and it always involves acknowledging that someone is in need.

If it was a need that you and I could help with, there would be no need for prayer. I could have helped Dennis that day on that street corner. I could have asked about all his problems. He seemed like a nice guy that would be willing to share his story.

He was probably jobless. I'm sure he was a bit hungry. He mentioned he wanted a couple of bucks he could use at McDonald's for coffee and breakfast. He said it over and over to everyone that passed him, and everyone did pass him.

Unlike you and me, he probably doesn't have strong family connections. A close relative or friend that could help him get out of his situation. Dennis knows that everyone making their way to work that morning, hurriedly walking by as they looked down or straight ahead, couldn't give him what he needed.

So, he asked for prayer. Before saying anything else, he asked for prayer. I told him I would pray for him because I know what it means to turn to prayer when no one else in the world could provide what you need outside of prayer. It seems that more and more the world can't give you what you need.

I've prayed for many things, and I've prayed for many people. I'm not sure how my prayers have made a difference, but I know that someone was listening, and I know that that someone knew exactly what Dennis needed in that moment on that day.

For that brief moment, on that street corner, Dennis got what he wanted. Someone prayed for him. I hope the prayer was answered.

Abe Villarreal writes about life and culture in America. He can be reached at abevillarreal@hotmail.com.