Notes From Day Seven: A student's prayer
A little while ago, I ran into a person who
said that she definitely was not a believer in
any religion. Not a believer in a church or a
temple or a holy book or a god. "But I pray all
the time."
"I just pray for all kinds of things. For my boyfriend to be happy, for a good job, for my car to not break down, for my grandmother to be healthy for another day. For the things I need. For stuff that's important to my friends."
Which is one place to start. You might not believe in God, but you might not disbelieve either. You might sense that there is Something out there, though you are not sure what. It could be just the Universe somehow eyeing you and having a way of being interested in what's going to happen to you today.
Prayer. It has different meanings. As a first example, Buddhist prayer is about "reconditioning" the inner person. It's about "awakening our capacities for strength, compassion and wisdom." This is according to the Buddhist Faith Fellowship website. In other words, Buddhist prayer is not the kind of prayer that the friend I just described practices. It's not about asking a god or the Universe for the things we desire but about finding the strength to live in a peaceful way.
When it comes to Hindu prayer, as far as I can tell, it appears to be a way of seeking oneness with the universal soul. Such prayers typically consist of repeated chants.
Muslim prayer is much different again, requiring that attention be paid to the time of day, to the direction one faces, to the cleansing from certain sources of filth such as urine and feces. Prayers must conform to the strict understanding of the Muslim god and of how he requires prayer to be offered.
Aboriginal prayers, as I observe them, help connect the person praying to the powers of animals or of ancestors of the past. They may involve a drumming circle or communal calling out.
Of course, I'm speaking so far as an outsider since I'm not a member of any of the traditions I have just mentioned. I am much more of an insider regarding the rest of what I write here.
Wherever Christianity has spread prayer has followed a different trajectory. In Christianity (as in Judaism, since Christianity is the main extension of Judaism in existence), God is personal. He is the Creator who made us to live in open and hope-filled relationship with him. Thus, for Christianity, prayer is essentially to speak with God from the heart about the things that truly matter to you or me.
Some words in prayers can be words of praise. Others can be words of thanks. There can be words of confession. There can be requests for forgiveness, and requests for any number of things or events that the person praying desires. This usually involves some groping in the dark since Christians leave it up to God whether or not to fulfill all the requests one makes.
Still, Christian prayer is an exercise of hope and trust. Hope that God will act in love and with power to make life better for others, for the person praying. And trust that whatever his response, even if it disappoints us, it will nevertheless be for the best.
So, what could a students' prayer look like? Here's one that you might find useful.
Lord God, you are a wonderful being
You made everything
You've given me and my family
and friends the gift of life
Thank you for the opportunity to learn
Help me to make the most of it
To appreciate my teachers
To support my classmates
To embrace the good things I have
learned from my family, tribe or community
as I move forward
Bless the college
Everyone involved here
Including the president, governing boards and committees
The instructors and custodians
Administrators and support staff of all kinds
And, perhaps, let me be like Christ, the Lord
Who also, it is likely, learned a trade — carpentry from his father
Who learned the arts of study, speaking, teaching, leading, healing, counselling, and helping those in trouble
Who was patient, and who worked very hard in order to right wrongs
Who loved the common things of the world, food, farms, shelter, friendship and wine at the table
And who above all, used his own powers and abilities to mend what was broken, and give your hope,
God, to all who reach for it. Amen.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
"I just pray for all kinds of things. For my boyfriend to be happy, for a good job, for my car to not break down, for my grandmother to be healthy for another day. For the things I need. For stuff that's important to my friends."
Which is one place to start. You might not believe in God, but you might not disbelieve either. You might sense that there is Something out there, though you are not sure what. It could be just the Universe somehow eyeing you and having a way of being interested in what's going to happen to you today.
Prayer. It has different meanings. As a first example, Buddhist prayer is about "reconditioning" the inner person. It's about "awakening our capacities for strength, compassion and wisdom." This is according to the Buddhist Faith Fellowship website. In other words, Buddhist prayer is not the kind of prayer that the friend I just described practices. It's not about asking a god or the Universe for the things we desire but about finding the strength to live in a peaceful way.
When it comes to Hindu prayer, as far as I can tell, it appears to be a way of seeking oneness with the universal soul. Such prayers typically consist of repeated chants.
Muslim prayer is much different again, requiring that attention be paid to the time of day, to the direction one faces, to the cleansing from certain sources of filth such as urine and feces. Prayers must conform to the strict understanding of the Muslim god and of how he requires prayer to be offered.
Aboriginal prayers, as I observe them, help connect the person praying to the powers of animals or of ancestors of the past. They may involve a drumming circle or communal calling out.
Of course, I'm speaking so far as an outsider since I'm not a member of any of the traditions I have just mentioned. I am much more of an insider regarding the rest of what I write here.
Wherever Christianity has spread prayer has followed a different trajectory. In Christianity (as in Judaism, since Christianity is the main extension of Judaism in existence), God is personal. He is the Creator who made us to live in open and hope-filled relationship with him. Thus, for Christianity, prayer is essentially to speak with God from the heart about the things that truly matter to you or me.
Some words in prayers can be words of praise. Others can be words of thanks. There can be words of confession. There can be requests for forgiveness, and requests for any number of things or events that the person praying desires. This usually involves some groping in the dark since Christians leave it up to God whether or not to fulfill all the requests one makes.
Still, Christian prayer is an exercise of hope and trust. Hope that God will act in love and with power to make life better for others, for the person praying. And trust that whatever his response, even if it disappoints us, it will nevertheless be for the best.
So, what could a students' prayer look like? Here's one that you might find useful.
Lord God, you are a wonderful being
You made everything
You've given me and my family
and friends the gift of life
Thank you for the opportunity to learn
Help me to make the most of it
To appreciate my teachers
To support my classmates
To embrace the good things I have
learned from my family, tribe or community
as I move forward
Bless the college
Everyone involved here
Including the president, governing boards and committees
The instructors and custodians
Administrators and support staff of all kinds
And, perhaps, let me be like Christ, the Lord
Who also, it is likely, learned a trade — carpentry from his father
Who learned the arts of study, speaking, teaching, leading, healing, counselling, and helping those in trouble
Who was patient, and who worked very hard in order to right wrongs
Who loved the common things of the world, food, farms, shelter, friendship and wine at the table
And who above all, used his own powers and abilities to mend what was broken, and give your hope,
God, to all who reach for it. Amen.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
