STESKA TELLS BREAKFAST PRAYER GIVES HIM GUIDANCE

Dr. Dan Steska, superintendent of Cape Girardeau public schools, readily admitted his guilt to a crowd of 800 people Thursday morning. He said he was guilty of praying in school.

Steska was featured speaker during the Mayors' Prayer Breakfast at Osage Community Centre. The event was held in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer.

Prayer in school is "something that I've had a problem with for a long time," Steska said, holding up a pair of plastic handcuffs. From his days as a student who hadn't sufficiently studied for tests to his decision to find equitable boundaries for children at Franklin and Blanchard schools, Steska said he has relied on prayer to guide him.

Steska said prayer offers him the wisdom to make better decisions that are found in fairness, justice and divine guidance.

Over the past 20 years, he said he has used that special access found in prayer. "There are times when I had to kneel down and say Lord, what do I do?'" he said. Sometimes he sought refuge in the quiet of his office, in a closet or in the washrooms hidden away from teachers, parents and staff.

"I appreciate that place of refuge," he said. "We all need that quiet place in the midst of turmoil in our lives."

In those times of trouble, remember that "God never fails," Steska said. "Everyone has access to the heavenly father who is feeling and compassionate and open to our sincere requests and cries. We need the knowledge of a good and merciful God."

Prayer enables people, ennobles them and enriches their lives, Steska said. "It reduces the anxiety that we all have in our lives."

The saying that prayer changes things isn't nearly as true as knowing that prayer changes people, Steska said. "Prayer changes us. After time in the presence of God it is amazing how we perceive the change." In reality, the situation might not have changed, but a person's attitude and outlook are different, he said.

Prayer puts a proper sense of direction and values on relationships with man and God. Prayer renews the spirit of integrity and character in a person's life, Steska said.

"We are asking the same God for the same strength, direction, wisdom and understanding," Steska said. "It's a thrill to know that we serve a God who cares."

Prayer doesn't have to be filled with fancy words or phrases but should be a "sincere statement of the creation to the creator," he said.

Prayers were offered for local, state and national leaders as well as the community's spiritual leadership. "May this Day of Prayer not be a day thing but a daily thing," said Jack Mehner, an event organizer and emcee.

Prayer services were planned in the community earlier in the week, and 300 youths attended a rally Wednesday evening. Another service was held at noon on the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse steps.