Thursday, September 10, 2009

prayer of self-reflection

Highest part of ourselves, that is also the shared, high ideals of the universe;
Deepest part of ourselves, that is also the deep heart of the universe;
Search our beings that we might know ourselves better.
Open our eyes to our true selves.
With the cool calm of this place regard ourselves honestly and help us to become the best we can be, the people we strive to become

If there are thoughts of enmity, let them go.
If there have been unkind words, let them go.
If there have been actions of mean-ness or hurt, let them go.
If we have acted in ways that seprate us from our brothers or sisters, or drove them away when we meant to bring them close, forgive us.
And with humble knowledge of our limitations, urge us toward a better future

Help us be the people that live in peace, that act with justice, that speak with love.
Help us to be the people that bring others together, that invite in, that make the world welcome.
Help us to make a community as large as our ideals, as wide as our arms, as deep as our hearts.

May all who seek this community of peace, and love and justice, find their way to us. And may we be the ones worthy of giving them the welcome they deserve.

Amen

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

prayer for giving and receiving help

O Life, container of us all, gift from a giver far beyond ourselves, undeserved blessing, we begin in debt to you and pledge our whole lives to making ourselves worthy of the privilege.

We begin our lives helpless, and loving arms reach out to hold us and care for us.

We begin with needs for love, for learning, for safety, and others appear to give us what we need.

As we grow stronger in our bodies, quicker in our minds, and more capable in our lives, we begin to become able to pay back some of the gift given to us, and there we discover that giving to others is as much a blessing as receiving.

Thank you for all the opportunities in our lives to give to others. Thank you for the opportunity to make our lives purposeful and meaningful through the actions that lift up others. And thank you for the understanding that by lifting others we lift ourselves.

Help us today to find ways to express our needs, to let others serve us, and to hear the needs of others, and offer our lives in service to them.

Amen.