Like divers who plunge to the depths of the sea in search of treasures, we submerge in the murky waters of a material world in order to uncover buried divinity. And like divers, we too must come up for oxygen. Prayer is that breath of fresh air...
Two chassidim from Odessa once traveled to their Rebbe in pursuit of a blessing. In a private audience, the first one was asked, "How are things in Odessa? Are the young people pious? Are they passionate in their service of G‑d?"