CAMPBELLTON, New Brunswick, June 20, 2023 – I do text editing and proofreading for my daily bread (Paul fixed tents; I fix tenses lol groan).

One of my clients years ago was a search and rescue (SAR) helicopter pilot who wrote articles for military journals about his rescues. It was fascinating to read his “insider scoops” about his missions. Many of the rescues were of people who’d done things they shouldn’t have done, such as gone skiing in locations that were off-limits due to avalanche dangers or headed out to sea in an approaching storm in a flimsy boat. Still, as a SAR operative, my client always had to put his personal feelings aside about the foolhardiness of the people he was attempting to rescue. He had to put his personal feelings aside and conduct a rescue mission, even if he personally believed it was a lost cause and even if it meant he had to put himself in harm’s way. Regardless of his personal opinions on the matter, he had to conduct a rescue mission. That was his job.

There’s no shortage of people doing things they’ve been warned not to do who then get themselves in a pickle they need rescuing from. But the time of rescue efforts is the not the time for giving up hope or for wagging your finger or for saying “I told you so.” The time of rescue efforts is to do everything in your power to bring the distressed people to safety. After they’re safe, then you can lecture them.

I mention this because a big part of our job as born-again believers is to pray for people. If people request our prayers, we pray for them. Our prayers are our spiritual SAR. We offer our prayers regardless of our personal feelings about the people who’ve asked for them or the reason they’ve asked for them. When people ask for our prayers, we go into spiritual SAR mode and conduct the requested mission.

As of the time of writing this article, a billionaire adventurer has gone missing during a trip in a submersible to the Titanic wreck in the North Atlantic. His family has requested prayers. And because his family has requested prayers, we need to pray for the safe rescue of the billionaire and everyone else on board the submersible. Regardless of our personal feelings about the man’s adventures (or now misadventures), we need to pray for him. That’s our job.

So please pray for him. The man’s name is Hamish Harding. Please pray for Hamish Harding, at the request of his family. Please pray for his safe rescue and the safe rescue of all those on board the Titan.

“Hamish Harding’s stepson, Brian Szasz, confirmed his stepfather was on board the vessel when it went missing.

“‘Hamish Harding, my step father, has gone missing on submarine. Thoughts and prayers,’ he wrote on Facebook, sharing family photos and articles.

“‘Thoughts and prayers for my Mom and Hamish Harding,’ he added.

“In a follow-up post, he added: ‘Thoughts and prayers for my stepfather Hamish Harding as his submarine has gone missing exploring Titanic. Search and rescue mission is underway.’“

British billionaire Hamish Harding missing on Titanic submarine gave eerie weather warning in Instagram post before dive | The Independent

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tldr: When people ask for your prayers, you give them your prayers.

That’s a non-negotiable request.

Regardless of your personal feelings towards the people making the request or the reason for their request, you pray for them. You ask God to help them.

That is your duty as a Christian.

If you choose not to do your duty, you’ll have God to answer to.