Meditation Moments: WWNMD?

I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one's head pointed toward the sun, one's feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death. ― Nelson Mandela* [1918-2013] 

Well, God, 
        If I'm planning a self-indulgent pity party of the poor me variety and the world news isn't enough to divert me, then it's time to read Mandela. All the usual descriptors apply - inspiring, heroic, determined, etc. - and, he ascended to heights well above anything that seemed remotely possible. So, Creator of Excessively Amazing People, could I have just a touch of what You gave Madiba? His own words certainly say more than mine can and I need to read them often. His life story is the very definition of hope. Will You please nudge me when I'm slowly sinking into my own stuff? (although a nudge might not be enough - sometimes I need You to shove me into the next room) 
        I need to be more optimistic, even if I have to work hard to achieve it. Nelson is a tremendous role model - he was flawed, brilliant, and tenacious. It's comforting to know that even he had his dark and doubtful moments - he was no saint but a real flesh and blood person. We all have our trials in life but rare is the example of such perseverance in the face of overwhelming adversity. And because of his story, I can walk a bit more briskly into the face of whatever comes. I can change my address to Hope Street and, in addition to wondering What Would Jesus Do to decide my next course, I can add What Would Nelson Mandela Do to the equation. I don't pretend to have any real idea what either one would actually do, but at least with the inspiration of both, I have a head start into moving forward with my "head pointed toward the sun."  amen.


*Nelson Mandela, revolutionary, politician, philanthropist, duly democratically elected first black President of South Africa after 27 years of imprisonment for sedition, treason, and sabotage. If you do not know his story - why not? Look it up!




Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Meditation Moments: Changing the Pray-er

The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.
                         ― Søren Kierkegaard [1813-1855]

Dear God, Almighty, Everlasting, and Eternal ~
           Of course I want to influence You. Of course I want You to do what I want You to do. Of course I'm not happy when things don't go my way. Sometimes I get angry. I'm human; it's my nature. SO, if I walk away in anger and blame, am I just acting as a spoiled child who is never satisfied? 
           But eventually I stop and I remember. I have Free Will. I have choices. I can choose to use prayer to demand, require, and exert an ultimatum for a requested outcome and be frustrated and angry when it doesn't come to pass. Or I can exclaim "Thank God!" when something good happens as a cursory nod for the expected. 
           I can also choose to pray through conversation with You to express my wants, needs, and desires, as well as my hopes and fears. When I pray without expecting You to fix or give something in return, I feel less agitated, perhaps no less in need or want, but more comforted from merely knowing You are present, listening, aware. The nature of my prayer becomes a visit with a trusted and cherished Friend who embraces my heart, soothes my soul, and is simply present and available whatever the outcome. And within the visit, through the prayer, I am transformed. I am calmer, I am more composed, and I am ready to work through all that life brings. I, the Pray-er, am changed. amen.  
           



*Søren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher, theologian, poet, social critic and wrote extensively on Christian Ethics, psychology, and the philosophy of Religion.  He often focused on personal choice and commitment, and, the art of Christian love.


Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Meditation Moments: Decisions on the 8s

If the world were merely seductive, 

that would be easy. 

If it were merely challenging, 

that would be no problem. 

But I arise in the morning
torn between 

a desire to improve the world and 

a desire to enjoy the world. 

This makes it hard to plan the day.

                               ― E.B. White* [1899-1985]




SO:
Volunteer at the Shelter - or - beach day?
Art exhibit - or -  go meet with legislators?
Join Peace Corps - or - theater subscription?

         Well, things aren't quite that cut and dried, are they?  Surely, Creator of Humans and Nature, there is room for all things under the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. And I do recognize how fortunate I am in even having such choices in my life. The difficulty is that I really do want to make the world a better place but, to be honest, I'm not a willing candidate for martyrdom - should I feel guilty? I do participate with time, energy, and a bit of money in causes that are important to me and I do find time to enjoy the fruits of Your Creation - family, friends, and even solitude. 
         Guide me as I search for the insight to do as I am able where I am needed most, and, the ability to discover the balance between giving of myself and giving to myself. I'll work on beginning and ending each day in prayer - and a bit in the middle as well - and then, maybe, the timing of when to do what will be revealed, without having to shake the Magic 8 Ball for answers.  amen.


*E.B. White, was an American writer for the New Yorker magazine and co-author of The Elements of Style, also known as Strunk and White. He is most famous for a series of children's books and in particular, Charlotte's Web.





Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Prayers of the People: Getting Our Feet Wet, 9th Sunday after Pentecost

for August 10, 2014, 9th Sunday after Pentecost, Readings: Gen 37:1-4, 12-28; Ps 105: 1-6, 44-45b, 16; Romans 10: 5-15; Mt 14:22-33

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.  Romans 10:12

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  Matthew 14:31-32

            Just as God is Lord of ALL, regardless of human categorization, Jesus calls - requires - us all to be out of the boat to get our feet wet in the realities of life's weather. Trust, faith, and heart will keep us from sinking as the beautiful feet of Jesus walk us toward the calm seas of the Good News.


LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God of Everyone and All, You are the Constant who can calm our fears and guide us through the wind and storms of life. Remind us always to leave our boats and reach for You in seas both rough and calm.

 

                              Lord Jesus, our Refuge in Chaos and Peace

RESPONSE:   We seek Your strength and Your presence

~ O God of Everyone and All, let us not be complacent in this harsh world and allow our brothers, our sisters, and our children to languish in the slavery of war and poverty. We must prevail upon the leaders of our world, our country, and our community, to take the measures necessary to restore justice, mercy, and peace, to those who are suffering at home and elsewhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                        Lord Jesus, our Refuge in Chaos and Peace

                        We seek Your strength and Your presence

~ O God of Everyone and All, send Your tender mercies to those who are struggling with illness, pain, and anxiety, and renew the hope and stamina of those who provide them with care. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                        Lord Jesus, our Refuge in Chaos and Peace

                        We seek Your strength and Your presence

~ O God of Everyone and All, shelter and lift those sinking in the waves of grief with the comfort of knowing their loved ones are in Your loving embrace. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

~ O God of Everyone and All, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, silently or aloud…

                        Lord Jesus, our Refuge in Chaos and Peace

                        We seek Your strength and Your presence

~ O God of Everyone and All, we give You thanks for those choosing and chosen to live their lives in service to You, and bringing us Your word and wisdom. Grant them spiritual vitality and smooth sailing through all the waters ahead. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                        Lord Jesus, our Refuge in Chaos and Peace

                        We seek Your strength and Your presence

The Celebrant adds:  Holy God, Creator of Earth, Sea, and Sky, invigorate our faith that we may walk with You in every port, on every path, and within our own hearts. Let us eagerly answer Your call with courage and conviction, through tempest and tranquility, through this life and the next. We ask this through Jesus, our Teacher and the Holy Spirit, our Shield, who together with You, live as our One God forever and ever. Amen.

Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Meditation Moments: Do I believe that?

I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer.
              ― Douglas Adams* [1952-2001]

Great Spirit of My Soul,

       I seem to ask that question quite a bit though I never seem to get a complete answer from myself. Other people seem very clear, even emphatic, about their beliefs and I often wish I could be. But the truth is, my answers keep changing, and, so, I often wonder why I wonder.

      One of the things about You of which I am certain is that there is You. Another is that You have many titles, many layers, and You are available to me in many, many ways.    

      But...there are the uncertain parts. Is there anything I'm required to believe? There sure are a lot of different ideas about You among people who get very upset, extremely angry, and even start wars if others disagree with them. If You are a Universal God, why do we have to fight about You? It's all in the details, I suppose - who made the rules and who shouts the rules out better. Are their rules all about loving You and each other, or control and manipulation by some earthly representative? 

       I learn more about who You are in my life through personal and communal prayer, by reading and talking about different faith traditions with others, and by looking at the lives of people I think are good models for my life. That helps me when those pesky questions arise. 

       Perhaps the God of those who fight, argue, and demand the most of others is smaller than You are and kept in a manageable box. Do I believe THAT? Why yes, yes I do.  amen.

*Douglas Adams, English born dramatist, humorist, and author, is best known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a comedic science fiction series of books, tv, movies, computer games, and plays. 
     



Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Meditation Moments: The Principal Principle

Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.
       ― The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.* [1929-1968]


       Sure, sure - love is the answer...easy to say and easy to do when the people are lovable. But there are people - whole groups of them - that I'm expected to hate because of all the awful things they do; oh, and they really do awful things. But so do the people I'm supposed to support. In war, they take 1 of ours, so we take 2 of theirs, and they take 3 of ours.... And there are others that aren't fighting far away wars but are still doing terrible things in the name of religion, race, politics, gender, sexual orientation, and, just because it's all they know how to do... Oh, Jesus, Dr. King, Mahatma...all of you were murdered by those you were teaching us to love. How scary is that? 
           Ok, deep breaths. I'm not heading for a war zone. I'm not a risk-taker heading off deliberately to save the world in unsafe places. Sometimes I wish I had that kind of courage and drive, but the truth is, I do not. So, then, grant me peace and love within myself and grace to reflect it outwardly with those I meet each day. And still fully human, I am likely to take sides in a given conflict, but please, Lord of my Heart, help me to remember to show love to everyone, or at least patience and kindness even to those with whom I disagree. Remind me, too, that I don't have all the information, I don't know all the backstory, I may never understand why some feel and act as they do and all You ask is that I love them, even if they don't love me back. I'll try, at least in principle. amen.


 *Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr. was an African-American Christian pastor, social activist, and humanitarian leader of the American Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Known for his stance of nonviolent civil disobedience for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize, King was assassinated in 1968. His most famous speech is the 1963 "I Have A Dream" given from the Capitol steps in Washington, DC in 1963.   
          



Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.

Meditation Moments: The Blindness I See

Dear God of Everyone, 
      I have no original or useful thoughts, no plan of action, no idea how to move beyond the anger, hatred, and power grabs in this world. The death, destruction, and devastation in too many parts of the Earth are gut-wrenching and heart-ripping. And even in the quieter parts of the planet there are deep and hateful political divides from which there seems to be no willingness to step back and work for the common good. HELP! 
       I've written, called, signed petitions, demonstrated...and, mostly prayed. How do those of us who care intensely about those who are injured and dying, but don't live with the bombs and terror, get us all beyond the ain't it awful to significant action?  
       Please let us all work together to find the path to stability, give us the tools to bring about peace, or, at the very least, restore hope to those who are in midst of the horror. Oh, and most especially, please, let those who are blind with rage finally see that everyone loses in war and other living conflicts.  amen.



*Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi [1869-1948] led the movement of Indian Nationalism in British-ruled India utilizing the principles of non-violent civil disobedience. Trained as a lawyer, he ultimately became the catalyst for Indian independence and attained the title, Mahatma, meaning venerable/high-souled and offered a model that influenced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., among others.



Please feel free to request a prayer or meditation to be composed for a particular person, concern, or topic for posting in this space. You may leave your request in the comments section or contact me directly at Leeosophy@gmail.com All compositions remain the property of the owner of this blog but may be used with attribution as long as they are not sold or charged for in any way. If you would like the weekly Prayers of the People prior to its appearance on the blog, please send me an email. Personal prayer requestors will remain anonymous.