Meridith, What does 'the unfinished circuit' mean in this context? The context is communication. "Crossed wires" refers to wrongly wired telephone or telegraph connections. Because the connection is crossed or incorrectly wired there is bad or failed communication, figuratively -- a lack of real understanding. Prayer is also a form of communication. The "unfinished circuit" refers to missing wires and thus failed communication. Perhaps it seems to her that God does not acknowledge or answer her prayers. She believes that there is a "gaping hole" or "unfinished circuit" between her and the Almighty. The barbed and slippery edges of this incomplete communication probably describe the mental illness or secret sins of the writer.

Wow, that's complicated. It looks like a translation that someone might have had trouble with, in getting the words right. I =think= that the writer is describing thinking about the "crossed-wires" metaphor that Dr. A used to describe something in the past, but is also realizing there is a different metaphor ("unfinished circuit") that works better for the present situation. However, the intended meaning of "circuit" in the second metaphor is not clear from what you've given. To a native US English speaker, "circuit" would usually mean an electrical circuit, but electrical circuits are not usually described as having "holes" with "barbed and slippery edges" that one would need to "tiptoe around." The writer seems to be using "circuit" more in the way that UK English speakers would--as you say, a road of some kind--but in that case, "barbed" is not a word that either a UK or US speaker would probably use to describe the edge of a hole. So it all sounds a little strange, and in any case, the use of "circuit" for the second metaphor is very confusing if the writer didn't mean an electrical circuit. ~ Sorry that is so long, but you are right, the quote is difficult to understand! :)

An uncompleted circuite is one where electricity is not reaching the final destination. it is not another phone-line reference like crossed wires. It is much more dangerous. if you step into the gap, and accidentally complete the circuit, you will wish you hadn't. You will be zapped- and possibly die. Prayers have real power and are dangerous- says this comparison.

"Crossed wires" as a metaphor would mean that something is complicated. I mean, imagine looking at crossed wires all over the place, you'd think it's complicated, too, right? I have no idea what this Dr. A is talking about, though. No, a circuit for race cars would mean their routes so it's not referring to that circuit. In the text, the person is saying that his "prayers are like an unfinished circuit", meaning incomplete? So probably, the prayers aren't being answered or something like that. That's what I think but I don't really know the situation of that person. Is this from a book? lol.