Prayer is not magic. Praying is strengthening, unifying, and liberating. Praying is life-talk, mission, the dance of revolution, … We cry for new life, nourishment, healing, action … Prayer is not individualistic. It’s not about special favors or any kind of favoritism. Praying is being communally present with the Communal Presence.

Strengthening moments begin simply … a monarch butterfly photographed in our backyard on Dauphin Island, November 4, 2007.

I like to commune outside, in a space that is engaging and dynamic, filled with birds, trees, sky, various surprises, … “You-Are-Who-Are, Infinite Lover of All, Eternal Creating Spirit!”

Who am I? Where can I turn? Where is my strength, my center? I don’t want to be distracted, addicted, enslaved … I deeply want to Live being part of an Awesome Team! “Kumbaya to us, Your beloved, yearning Children, that we may keenly see and profoundly appreciate the needs, beauty, and gifts of each person and all creation!”

So much potential, but we often seem ensnared, paralyzed, powerless, … and so much of this is our own doing. I have done both good and evil. I am grateful and regretful. But all evil can be, will be, and has been overcome! “Merciful, Grateful Liberator, unshackle us from every hurt, injustice, doubt, anger, dishonesty, conceit, shame, and fear! Save us from every urge to do or return evil!”

My children and George Washington Carver have taught me that everything we need can be found in what we already have! We’ve been wondrously placed on this incredible, astonishing planet that has renewably nourished diverse life for billions of years. Without cost, the thirsty drink and hungry eat: free water, milk, bread, and the richest foods – all without costs (Isaiah)! “Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap, yet our Heavenly Father feeds them (Jesus)!” So why are we sowing and reaping such destruction upon the Earth! We! Who are we? God’s children? We must find and believe in our Collective Creative Strength! We must become part of the Great Giving! “We-Are-Who-Are, drench us with free and abundant nourishment found throughout creation and through diverse and wondrous persons!”

Much of “how-things-are” in our world, the world of our making, is shaped by injustice, dishonesty, fear, … We continue to hold each other in chains. But a renewing togetherness, generous and resourceful, is growing! “We-Can-Who-Can, rouse us to champion a wholly renewed world where nothing is wasted, every gift is shared, and every need filled!”

We, though wounded, together in all our diversity, together with the Healing Spirit, are the answer! We’re being counted upon! Our communal efforts and our inspired lives are the key to our Everyone’s Heaven and the key to our future and our children’s children’s children’s well-being and survival. “We-Will-Who-Will, heal us through shared words, play, and work so that we will come alive as one family filled with infinite joy, generosity, hope, understanding, creativity, openness, forgiveness, and love! Friend of All, our Imminent Victory, be our All in All, together for the benefit of All! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!”

Rote prayers, like the You-Are-Who-Are prayer (seen in orange above), are guides, jumping off points for the heart, mind, and actions. I try to start each morning with the Lord’s Prayer (the Lord’s Guide) followed by this You-Are-Who-Are guide. It generally takes 30 minutes to an hour. Often I don’t finish the rote words. What’s important is to join the Presence, be decisively encouraged, see the path to healing, …, and wholeheartedly live it!