I believe in freewill.
So. No I don't think that we can pray for another's salvation. God is not going to coerce so nor can we. But we can pray for ears to be open, eyes to be open to His gospel. Not to mention the Holy Spirit is doing His Job at all times.
So your analogy of the pond is a good one. I just believe that there is something missing in the pond you describe.
The life preserver that God threw out in the pond. And it is bright red, for all to see and come to.
John 12:32
New American Standard Bible
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself."
Well then it is still up to us to see the red life preserver and then swim to it, that would require work on our part, therefore I think the analogy falls flat. No body has denied we have choice in life, like I make decisions all day every day. We are free to behave however we choose to, but the choices I make now are completely different from the ones I made before He saved me. I believe He saved me, I believe that we as "fallen man" is incapable of seeking after God, I believe that it is through no effort of my own, like looking for, seeing, swimming to, then gabbing, in my personal experience that was not how it happen to me, and I honestly believe the Bible tells us it is through NO work of ours least any man should boast.
That said I want you to understand that I have seen it the same way you are describing. I'd think "How can it work without free will?", I just couldn't make sense of that, but that's not what I read about in the Bible, this is all about His g
lory and kingdom, not just my personal salvation. I see my salvation as the most precious thing possible in this life, He chose me, He chooses us not in an arrogant way but more in a "He is the big BOSS of EVERYTHING, and He did it for a reason, and He HAS victory, and the whole world WILL be put under Jesus feet" type way. I do know what you mean though and I understand, but if that was true, in my mind anyway, then that has to mean I could always choose to walk away from Him, and that is clearly taught against in the bible. The only way to reconcile this in my head, or at least much more satisfying to me is if God is sovereign over ALL things, and I believe He is with every bit of faith He has blessed me with. #ALLGOD