Write a Prayer-a-Day Project

All things must pass, including us. We spend more than a little time and energy obsessing on the reality of dying: we do we not spend an equal amount of thought on how we choose to live? We can rest assured that our time will end, and that it is simply and perfectly normal. Indeed, we will spend infinitely longer in not-Being than in Being. So let us, instead, accept that our time is precious, and concentrate on how it is best spent. Let us focus first on our relationships at hand – our spouses, our children, our siblings, our parents. Let us tend to our relationship with the environment, and our relationships at work. May we be every mindful of our sacred relationships with our friends, for much of life happens here. And may we pay special attention to our relationships with those with whom we disagree. May our presence be a blessing in the world. For the Celebration of Life, we rejoice. Blessed Be, and Amen.

May we, this day, be brave in trying something new. A project unfamiliar, with the promise of transformation A new approach to an old problem. A creative solution to an historic challenge. In our Divinity, we re-create the world anew each day. Let us create the world in which we’d like to live. Let us create the world we want to bequeath to our progeny. We wield more power as agents of change than we are often aware. It is a terrific responsibility – may we find ourselves up to the task. So imagine what to do today, and then go do it. For righteous action we are forever grateful. Blessed Be, and Amen.

We live in a world of diversity: of thought, of gender identity, of political persuasion, of culture and race, of religious commitment or lack thereof. And yet, we are all here together, experiencing the same range of emotions, faced with the same challenges, trying desperately to navigate life with grace and integrity. May our conversations be civil. May our compassion run deep and flow wide. May our patience be absolute. May our respect be manifest. For all of Us, in our diversity, we give thanks. Blessed Be, and Amen.

May we, this day, find inspiration anew. May we find fresh insights, and be creative problem-solvers. May we meet challenges with confidence and patience. May we hone old skills, and develop new ones. We pray that others will recognize our efforts and give us due encouragement, acknowledgement, and affirmation. And may all this activity foster the promise of new horizons, new opportunities, and deeper appreciation of all the blessings with which we are bestowed. Our lives are sacred: therefore, our efforts in all we do should be endowed with mindfulness and holy intention. For the work we do, and the work we have yet to do, we give thanks. Blessed Be, and Amen.

A prayer of Resurrection – every day we each may suffer many deaths: the disappointment of an unfulfilled wish; a goal that falls short; a broken relationship. And the greatest deaths we may suffer are those in which we fail ourselves, fail to live into our aspirations, when we break covenant with the world. These deaths are accompanied by shame, by broken self-esteem, and by despair. How can we ever live up to the lofty values we create for ourselves? We do it through resurrection, by birthing and re-birthing ourselves anew each day. It has been always thus, and has been the message of every great spiritual teacher and religious tradition. We atone for our ‘sins’ by re-engaging, by rising and trying again and again. Life and Death are transverse points on the continuum of Being. May we not despair in our moments of sorrow, knowing that new life awaits, full of promise and possibility. We are thankful for all our resurrections. Blessed Be, and Amen.

May we, this day, find inspiration and creativity! May we bring our artful selves to the table, that what we produce will be worthy of praise and delight. We express the gamut of the living experience, elevating the mundane to the sublime, pathos to paragon. May we find truth and authenticity. May we touch others, and lift them up. And may we have fun in the process. For art that imitates life that imitates art, we delight. Blessed Be, and Amen.

For our families: we are born into a clan, a tribe of others with whom we will be closely knit. In spite of our familial bonds, we may not always get along. We may find other people in the course of our lives with whom we feel a stronger affinity. Some will consciously leave their family of birth, severing ties and relationships. In the best of circumstances, we will still find times we are in conflict with our families. It will be easy to forget the importance of our connections. May we find healing in our broken relationships. May we remember the importance of our allegiances. May we comfort each other in sickness and strife. May we honor each other, and in so doing, honor ourselves. And may we never forget that we are ALL family, for better or for worse. We give thanks for brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons & daughters. Blessed Be, and Amen.

Give us rest for the weary, grant us strength for the weak. May sorrows find solace, may the marginalized find acceptance. May the dispossessed return home, may the poor find sustenance. Let those who know plenty find our generosity. May those who feel strong also feel compassion. Give us eyes to recognize our sisters and brothers in peril. Give us ears to hear the cries of anguish and the whispers of desperation. And give us hearts filled with boundless love, and the courage to act accordingly. For righteous action and infinite love we grateful. Blessed Be, and Amen.

May the people of this world grow in their love and acceptance of each other. We struggle daily with so many little battles, and we all face the same ultimate uncertainties. The only thing we have is each other. There is room at the table for us all. “We need not think alike to love alike.” May we adapt the old adage “live and let live” to “live and let love.” For we cannot have too much love in the world. Love does not flourish in a vacuum. Like the most tender flower it must be nurtured and tendered. Rich soil for strong roots, light for nourishment, water for strength. May we all, this day, become horticulturalists of humanity. For our spiritual green thumbs we are grateful. Blessed Be, and Amen.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Endurance must be our mode, but not simply that we may DO more; we must remember to BE in each moment, grounded, present and processing. Practicing healthy living – sleeping, eating well, and distracting our busy minds with diversions are all part of the equation. These are deep skills, and easily forgotten or ignored. So a prayer this day for stamina, for insight, and for right practice. We are called on to accomplish much, so let us proceed; let us also advance mindfully, spiritually, in a state of confident restraint and “wholistic” engagement. For all that we are called to do this day, we give thanks. Blessed Be, and Amen.