When I was a child I would pray. I would kneel at the foot of my bed and put my hands together pointing up. I would close my eyes, concentrate, and often press my face against my hands (nose to thumbs). My prayer always ended with
“… keep my soul free
from sin. Keep those that I love free from sin. And take my soul to heaven when
I die.”
When I was a teenager I prayed to be brave. I prayed for
confidence. I prayed to ignore my haters and for them to not harm me. I prayed
the bullies would leave me alone. I prayed for skills to defend myself. I prayed
for God to change me; to not be different.
I was brave even though I didn’t think so at the time.
Confidence came and so did defensiveness. But I was to be different. That was
my calling and it still is. I was not chosen to be a light on the strand that
decorates, but rather a single candle flickering in the window directing
attention.
Attention is power.
Attention is power.
My beliefs have changed over the decades. I choose personal affirmations
over prayer. I even wrote a customized mantra:
I believe in me and all that I do
I believe in goodness and that of
everyone
(I believe that I will be well received)
I believe in the universe and
that it is ours for the making
There is power in prayer.
Terms have changed, understandings have evolved, and
explanations have become vaguer. But it really is all the same. I have never stopped
talking to “God”.
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