It may come as a surprise to you to know that there’s very little privacy in most West African villages. In order to find a “prayer closet”, i.e., some privacy, Christians there are known to find a place that’s often miles outside of their village where they can pray with complete transparency and privacy.
Of course, over time, the pathways to these outdoor “prayer closets” become visible through the footpaths being made through the brush. When grass began to grow over one of these trails, it was evident that the person to whom it belonged was not praying very much. Or you may notice that it was a well-beaten path indicating something may be heavy on their heart.
Over time a unique custom sprang up. Whenever anyone noticed an overgrown “prayer path,” he or she would go to the person and lovingly say, “Friend, there’s grass and weeds on your path!” Or if it was seeming to receive more traffic than normal, they would ask, “what prayers can I carry for you on my path?”
Let’s get off on the right path for the New Year!
