praying for the world

what's wrong with your knees,
I ask betty
when seeing her limping
at the mall.
there are large band aids
on her knee caps.
I want to say, rug burns?
but don't.
I've been going to church
a lot lately,
she says.
I've gotten into praying
more.
not just for things,
or me,
or for my dog, who was bitten
by a snake last week,
but for the whole world.
that's a lot of praying
I tell her,
looking at her bag from
target.
I bought some knee pads,
she says. taking them out
to show me.
like the kind construction
workers wear, but
I have to let
the blisters heal first
before I can use them.
I've been praying sitting up
in the pews lately, but
I don't think it's quite
as effective, do you?