I received the following story from a friend, but was not able to trace its origins. I really like the story:
Prayer takes place in our relationships: with God and our relationship with our neighbors as well. There is a Jewish story about a group of students who come to their Rabbi and ask, “When will we know that it is morning time, so we will know to begin our morning prayers? Is it when we see a shape in the distance, and know that the shape is a dog or a sheep?”
The Rabbi says, “No, that’s not when you will know.”
They ask, “Will it be when we see a shape and know it is a fig tree and not a pear tree?”
The Rabbi says, “No, that’s not when you will know.”
They ask, “Well, tell us Rebbi. When will we know that it is morning time?”
The Rabbi says, “When you see into the face of your fellow human beings and know that they are brothers and sisters, then it is morning time. Then you can begin your prayers. Until then it is still night time.”
Prayer between us is the ability to see into the other’s face, divine wisdom. Prayer is the ability for one soul to touch another, and connect.
[Source unknown]
Fraternized 