“living into this magnificent and troubled human incarnation…”
Quote by Jack Kornfield
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Magnificent?
Yes.
Troubled?
Absolutely.
It’s wacky
Being human,
No?
So—
What
Helps?
Prayer?
Anne Lamott says
Prayer can be
As simple as
Help
Or
Thanks
Or
Wow.
That is
So cool.
I used to
Pray
Feverishly,
Long and
Involved
And
Complex
Combinations
Of
Prayers.
I was busy
Doing
My best
To alter
Reality.
Guess
What?
I didn’t
Work.
Reality,
That
Son-of-a-gun
(Excuse, I’m channeling Sidney Futuronsky, my dad here)
Always
Won.
I have begun
To believe
That
Prayer
Doesn’t
Impact reality,
As much
As loosens
Our
Grip
On it.
And—
Perfectly!
Once we have relaxed,
Released,
Softened,
Once we,
The Great
Forces of the Universe
That we are,
Relax,
Let go,
Breathe,
Surrender,
Things
Do flow,
Life does
Unfold,
Reality does
Cooperate.
~~~
Here are Mary Oliver’s simple and profound take, On Prayer:
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch
a few words together and don’t try
to make them elaborate, this isn’t
a contest but the doorway
into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.
~~~
Weeds in a vacant lot! I love that.
Spiritual practice, not a contest, but a doorway…
And you, dear reader, how does prayer show up for you?
I am a fan of walking with mantra.
My dogs, Lucy Doodle and Zac Joe Doodle taught me that.
Walk and move and pray.
Their dog-walking was, for a while there, an insufferable burden.
I wanted to go home—to meditate!
They taught me—
Walk and move and pray.
Move walk pray.
Move walk pray.
And oh, to walk with them again…
~~~
Nature!
Of course.
Prayers
Are so
Visible
In nature.
HEY!
The light
Is softening,
Each day
Just
A
Tad
Longer.
Not just in
Brightness.
The light feels
Softer!
That—is a prayer.
What else?
Music!
Of course,
Of course,
Of course.
Music.
~~~
Here is Rabbi Angela Buchdahl from Central Synagogue in New York—
Offering us such a prayer, such a blessing of love—
Love Only Love
~~~
And finally, a prayer of healing. From my heart—to yours:
A Prayer of Healing:
~~~
Dear Friends,
One breath,
One step,
One
Moment
At a time.
That is all
That life
Asks of us.
Be safe,
Be
Well.
With gratitude
And love—
Stay blessed,
Aruni