Speaking of Spirit

The Our Father in Greek   Image via Wikipedia   As some may know, I was raised Catholic, converted to Protestantism, have family members who are Jewish, have close friends who are Muslim, Hindu and Pagan and became an Interfaith Minister. So, when the question was asked, "Why do Catholics not say the last part of the Our Father?" I jumped at finding out the answer. The Our Father , as most people know it, is a prayer given to us, according to scripture, by Jesus. Scholars disagree with the interpretation of the prayer, as well as the translation.  However, most modern translations show Jesus giving these words to the disciples.   Matthew (6:9-13) writes:    9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. 12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 ‘And do not lea...

Image via Wikipedia In the Face of Adversity The winter wind blows cold. Walking down the street, my heart aches for warmth. Fear nips at my heals. I pray for the strength to meet this new day, drawing out what sunshine I can find lingering in the dark corners. Grandmother’s Prayer While holding this little one  who still smells of angel essence, so fresh from Your hands to mine, I pray for my child - the mother - that she may have the wisdom to guide your gift to us through the perilous paths of life. Grant that I have the pleasure to watch - without interfering - to guide - without preaching and to love - without end, as You do. As the Sprouts Form Image via Wikipedia Creator of the tiniest atoms, we sing praise,  as from this warm soil sprouts begin to force their gentle green bodies into the sunlight we sing praise,  as from skeletons of wood the smallest of buds ...

This is that verdant time of year when many sow seeds in their gardens hoping to grow beautiful flowers and/or delectable fruit and vegetables.  However, as I was sitting in my mediation garden this week, I realized that this is also a time of year for sowing more than seeds.   In high schools around the world, parents sow their children into the world of adult responsibility.  They pray that their child will fall on fertile ground, growing straight and strong.  At colleges and universities, young adults sow their dreams, praying that their dreams will find the light of recognition and will mature into a bountiful harvest. In recognition of all this, here are several prayers for sowers of all form of seed - be it the seeds that feed us, seeds of peace, seeds of love or even the fragile seeds of dreams - ~~~~~~~ I t can be heard in the doleful cry Of a lonely whippoorwill . . . In zephyr winds that softly touch The nodding daffodil. It can be s...

Image via Wikipedia “A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts”. --Washington Irving God our Creator, we pray: for new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility; for expectant mothers, wondering and waiting; for those who are tired, stressed or depressed; for those who struggle to balance the tasks of work and family; for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty; for those whose children have physical, mental or emotional disabilities; for those who have children they do not want; for those who raise children on their own; for those who have lost a child; for those who care for the children of others; ...