What happens when you give somebody a gift? What occurs inside you? You probably feel excited, or happy, or satisfied that you were able to do something that lifted the spirits of the recipient of the gift. You may feel proud that you remembered a special occasion, or pleased that you were able to comfort someone during a time of difficulty. We give gifts for many different reasons; out of love, a sense of guilt, peer pressure, etc. Sometimes we give gifts to people who are very close to us, sometimes through acts of charity to people who are unknown to us. Often when we give a present we do so by sending a package or money. However, there are ways whereby we can share a gift with someone without needing to spend a dime. I am thinking of people whom I never met or will never know who have suffered great loss. I am thinking of family members and friends who are awaiting word of people who are missing and presumed dead as a result of the I-35 West bridge collapse in Minneapolis. I am thinking of families and friends of miners who are trapped below ground in Utah. No one reading this message would want to be in the place of anyone waiting for news in both locations. We shudder to even think about standing in the shoes of someone who fears the worst. Secretly, we thank our lucky stars, or we thank God that our loved ones are safe and secure. Even as we are grateful for our not standing the edge of an emotional cliff, our hearts break for those who do. One of the greatest gifts we can offer is a few moments of private prayer. We can place someone else’s fears and anxieties above our own priorities. In our hearts we can elevate the needs of strangers over our own immediate and longterm concerns. It is not a gift of money, jewelry or clothing. It is a gift of humanity and a present of menschlich-keit. In the days ahead give three minutes of you busy life in prayer to someone who will never be able to thank you. Surely it is a blessing that we have the opportunity to act in this manner.