Prayer

     I’ve been praying a lot recently, more even than usual. I’m also reading a book about prayer; how to pray, specifically. In learning to pray The Lord's Prayer, the prayer that Jesus taught us all, with greater intentionality and purpose I find every line new and fresh although I have been repeating this prayer, over and over, my whole life through. In times of need, fear, loss, sadness and joy this simple exhortation covers all the bases and yet children can learn it, simply and easily.

     What I also find interesting today is that the commandment given to Jesus to treat others as you yourself would want to be treated which is in Matthew and Luke is not a concept specific to Judeo Christian religions only but exists in many different religions and cultures in the world. A handout from the Surrey Interfaith Council beautifully illustrates what we call "the Golden Rule" or "the summary of the Law and the Prophets, representing a core Christian ethic of love, reciprocity, and proactive kindness" according to Google. 

     These are hard times, full of division and hatred, greed and contempt and yet rather than feeling that we stand alone in our beliefs we must realize that others hold this core value as central to their beliefs as much as we do.