As of this writing, I have been living with and managing pain for almost two months now. Although it has limited my mobility, it has given me a lot of time to discover more of God and who He is, discover Christian ministries online, and discover some humility on my part as I ask friends for prayer support. It always takes some humility to do that but it takes more when there is no reply or reaction.

As everybody is busy, I send my requests online as it is the easiest and the most convenient. And this is where things became interesting as I learned ONE unexpected lesson on the etiquette for handling online prayer requests to which I vow to always heed: ALWAYS RESPOND, REACT, OR REPLY.

Before I go any further, you need to know that I don't send online blasts to everyone in my contact and friends' list. I choose the recipients who number not more than 25 people. At least that's the count when I started as the number is dwindling by the week based on the response (or no response) that I have been getting because some had relegated me to the "seen zone." Some from the very beginning.

Eph. 6:18 says: "Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out." (MSG) My spirit could hardly go up in the seen zone. Oh I can say to myself that because we're friends, surely, s/he is praying for me but you know what? A reaction or a “K” reply is 100% more reassuring than a “deadma.”

I also realized how emotionally healing it is to receive a prayer reply where I get to read the very words they uttered to the Healer on my behalf. Some even blew me away by the depth of their intimacy with God. Once again, I am humbled as it puts me to shame on how I have prayed for others. This made me change my ways. Before, I would be satisfied to just react or reply with “K” but now, I try to do the same.

Do I sound bitter? I hope that is not your takeaway for that will be missing my point. I am merely sharing the error of my ways as I have behaved as badly as my seen-zone friends. I don’t know if those whom I seen-zoned in the past were offended but this one thing I know. Never again. I have learned my lesson. Thank You, Lord, for making me see.