--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wish to preface my reflections by…" description: "\"I wish to preface my reflections by saying that I am conducting this prayer service and am speaking to you now with great reluctance. I did not seek to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/thomas-j-paprocki-45222_calling_i-wish-to-preface-my-reflections-by-sayi_3130338.jpg" --- # I wish to preface my reflections by saying that I am… ![“I wish to preface my reflections by saying that I am conducting this prayer service and am speaking to you now with great reluctance. I did not seek to enter any controversy and I don't relish being part of one. But I have given this matter a great deal of thought and prayer, which has led me to…” quote by Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/thomas-j-paprocki-45222_calling_i-wish-to-preface-my-reflections-by-sayi_3130338.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/thomas-j-paprocki-45222_calling_i-wish-to-preface-my-reflections-by-sayi_3130338.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52a/thomas-j-paprocki-45222_calling_i-wish-to-preface-my-reflections-by-sayi_3130338.jpg) > “I wish to preface my reflections by saying that I am conducting this prayer service and am speaking to you now with great reluctance. I did not seek to enter any controversy and I don't relish being part of one. But I have given this matter a great deal of thought and prayer, which has led me to the conviction that God is calling me to speak out and conduct these prayers.” [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reluctantly shares a prayer‑driven conviction despite avoiding controversy. **In simple terms:** Speaking out due to divine calling. Key Takeaway Act on convictions responsibly. Themes faith courage conviction Mood serious determined Type oral inspirational When to use this quote - church leadership - community debates - personal testimony Key Concepts religion ethics public discourse Questions to Reflect On - When should one stay silent? - How to balance faith with public opinion? A Different Perspective Speaking out may provoke conflict and division. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Controversy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Reflection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection/) [Reluctance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reluctance/) [Thoughts and prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-prayers/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [After much thought and prayer, I have come to my own personal conclusion that we shouldn't tell people who they can love or who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-hagan/after-much-thought-and-prayer-i-have-come-to-my-own-personal/) [Kay Hagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-hagan/) > [Mankind have such a deep stake in inward illumination, that there is much to be said by the hermit or monk in defence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/mankind-have-such-a-deep-stake-in-inward-illumination-that-there-is/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Although no words can really help to ease the loss you bear, Just know that you are very close in every thought and prayer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-campbell/although-no-words-can-really-help-to-ease-the-loss-you-bear-just-know/) [Thomas Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-campbell/) > [Our Sages refer to Prayer as "Service of the Heart". But the heart cannot work properly unless the brain functions to stimulate and control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-jakobovits-baron-jakobovits/our-sages-refer-to-prayer-as-service-of-the-heart-but-the-heart/) [Immanuel Jakobovits, Baron Jakobovits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-jakobovits-baron-jakobovits/) > [I sang at the Inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/i-sang-at-the-inaugural-prayer-service-at-the-national-cathedral/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [“But too much reading had taken its toll. William found that he now thought of prayer as a sophisticated way of pleading with thunderstorms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-too-much-reading-had-taken-its-toll-william-found-that-he-now/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The person who prays and who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the word he desires to worship (in order to be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/the-person-who-prays-and-who-wants-to-gain-a-deeper-understanding-of/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [“You must learn to tell worry from thought, and thought from prayer. Sometimes a light will go from your life, Huw, and your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-llewellyn/you-must-learn-to-tell-worry-from-thought-and-thought-from-prayer-2/) [Richard Llewellyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-llewellyn/) > [“Worry, my son?...I am not worried now and I never have or will. You must learn to tell worry from thought, and thought from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-llewellyn/worry-my-son-i-am-not-worried-now-and-i-never-have-or-will-you-must/) [Richard Llewellyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-llewellyn/) > [There was a time in my life that I thought prayer did not matter either. There was a time earlier in my life where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-johnson-jr/there-was-a-time-in-my-life-that-i-thought-prayer-did-not-matter/) [Ernie Johnson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-johnson-jr/) > [Prayer doesn’t work. Perhaps it makes the believer feel better (in the same way that meditation or deep thought would), but prayer doesn’t actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/prayer-doesn-t-work-perhaps-it-makes-the-believer-feel-better-in-the/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [The angels can be thought of as our prayer partners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-taylor/the-angels-can-be-thought-of-as-our-prayer-partners/) [Terry Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-taylor/) > [“You must learn to tell worry from thought and thought from prayer. Sometimes a light will go from your life, and a thought becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-llewellyn/you-must-learn-to-tell-worry-from-thought-and-thought-from-prayer/) [Richard Llewellyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-llewellyn/) > [“I have never looked to religion for comfort - belief is just not in my genes. But reading Mastering the Art of French Cooking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/i-have-never-looked-to-religion-for-comfort-belief-is-just-not-in-my/) [Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/) > [“A thought is a prayer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-galvez/a-thought-is-a-prayer/) Marguerite Galvez ## More by Thomas J. Paprocki > [The Good News is that God's mercy and forgiveness extend to those who repent. Mercy does not mean approving of something that is sinful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-paprocki/the-good-news-is-that-god-s-mercy-and-forgiveness-extend-to-those-who/) [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) > [I do not stand here before you as a self-righteous saint who has achieved spiritual perfection, but as a sinner who has received Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-paprocki/i-do-not-stand-here-before-you-as-a-self-righteous-saint-who-has/) [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) > [It is not hateful to say that an immoral action is sinful. On the contrary, the most compassionate thing we can do is help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-paprocki/it-is-not-hateful-to-say-that-an-immoral-action-is-sinful-on-the/) [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) > [This is a key point which the secularists are missing: they think that stressing God's mercy means that sins are no longer sins. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-paprocki/this-is-a-key-point-which-the-secularists-are-missing-they-think-that/) [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) > [Our prayer service today and my words are not meant to demonize anyone, but are intended to call attention to the diabolical influences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-paprocki/our-prayer-service-today-and-my-words-are-not-meant-to-demonize/) [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) > [Our prayers at this time are prompted by the fact that the Governor of Illinois today is signing into Illinois law the redefinition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-paprocki/our-prayers-at-this-time-are-prompted-by-the-fact-that-the-governor/) [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) > [The fact is that a "minor exorcism" takes place in every Baptism and Confirmation ceremony when we renounce Satan and all his works and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-paprocki/the-fact-is-that-a-minor-exorcism-takes-place-in-every-baptism-and/) [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) > [Politicians responsible for enacting civil same-sex marriage legislation are morally complicit as co-operators in facilitating this grave sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-paprocki/politicians-responsible-for-enacting-civil-same-sex-marriage/) [Thomas J. Paprocki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) [Explore all 9 Thomas J. Paprocki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-paprocki/) ## More Calling quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [NBC is making a movie about Martha Stewart that will cover the recent stock scandal. They are thinking of calling it 'The Road To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nbc-is-making-a-movie-about-martha-stewart-that-will-cover-the-recent/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [When I was a little boy, I was reading Dante and I was saying to myself 'Bravo, Dante, Bravo.' It's so beautiful, the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-benigni/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-was-reading-dante-and-i-was-saying-to/) [Roberto Benigni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-benigni/) > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [\*Calling someone I don't want to answer\* \*Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail..\* Hello? -\_\_\_-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/calling-someone-i-don-t-want-to-answer-please-go-to-voice-mail-please/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Sometimes you hear a voice through the door calling you... This turning toward what you deeply love saves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sometimes-you-hear-a-voice-through-the-door-calling-you-this-turning/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) Browse all 3,811 Calling quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wish to preface my reflections by saying that I am conducting this prayer service and am speaking to you now with great reluctance. I did not seek to enter any controversy and I don't relish being part of one. But I have given this matter a great deal of thought and prayer, which has led me to the conviction that God is calling me to speak out and conduct these prayers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas J. 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