Pentecostal Prayer Day 35

I am thrilled that our individual and collective beliefs are being challenged on an international scale.

The greatest thing about the gift of freedom of speech and of religion is that it gives us the opportunity for personal heroics. I believe in the freedom of speech, and I also know that humanity is dependent on freedom of will. These are two responsibilities of each individual in society. If those espousing religion would truly follow their own creeds, all "charity" would be carried out within communities of believers without intervention of the taxpayer. If we stop supporting religion and civil rights efforts with tax dollars, perhaps all individuals would think in terms of the consequences of their own free choices.

It is difficult to stay true to one's own values in the face of opposition and possible persecution. It is more difficult to stay true to our beliefs and to hold our children to those values when the neighbors may be doing something different than that which is allowed in our home. Modeling and bonding, not fear of persecution and punishment, are what make others adherents to our wishes. This takes time and dedication. Making what the religious deem immoral available to all is not the same as forcing these actions on people.

We, in the United States, honor the sanctity of family bonds, be they biological or simply legally approved. This is a double-edged sword. While we assume that all children are wanted by their parents, we actually know that this is not the case. Because we are not sure what traits are genetic and can't be corrected with either medical intervention or responsible compassion, we hesitate to supersede the accepted "rights" of the parents to procreate with the absolute rights of the children to be cherished. I submit that we have adopted this policy because we don't have the ability to truly control The Sacred Spirit in the many physical manifestations on earth.

My prayer for Pentecost is that we all examine our our values and practice them, rather than preach them.

Pentecost Prayer Day 34

I am Eve, always seeking the knowledge of good and evil,

And suffering greatly with each revelation in myself and others.

I am Sarah, the mother of a new generation of leaders in their tribes.

And I am Hagar who is turned away by other mothers

For fear that I will turn from handmaiden to matriarch.

I am the mother of Moses, sending my boy off to his destiny;
Though my womb bore him, and at my breasts, he nursed.
I became the handmaiden to those who claimed him.
And I have been called a warrior and judge, as was Deborah. 

I am Martha and Mary, both serving and observing,

Wanting to feed many with warm milk and with wisdom,

Knowing that there are many not open to mothering.

I am Mary Magdalene, scorned and scourged as a whore,

And I am the mother/wife of men who honor my motherhood.

Though I cry bitter tears of blood for human suffering,

I know that I can’t turn others from their sacred missions.

If I was able to be stoic as I follow in others’ footsteps,

Perhaps I would be allowed to stay at the foot of the cross.

Barring that honor, I will continue to observe and speak out.

My prayer for Pentecost is that we all have the courage to speak of what we observe.

Pentecost Prayer Day 33

It seems that the hijab is considered a justifiable reason to persecute the wearer. I grew up Roman Catholic; in my youth, women weren't allowed to enter churches without head coverings.  Even non-orthodox Jewish men show respect in their temples by covering their heads. As an adult in sales, I used to wear a large hat whenever I was making sales calls, and was picked up by a policeman under suspicion of being a prostitute. Talk about jumping to conclusions!

Not all passionate displays of belief are suspicious. Is the horseback enthusiast suspect for donning a cowboy hat and western boots? Is the blue-collar worker less a fellow citizen for wearing a “Cat” hat? Is the sports or school fan a heretic because the colors of the team are worn? Do we have to confine our displays of our beliefs to homogeneous groups in order not to be persecuted?

We could do with more modesty in our citizenry, but America has a way of using desensitization by over-exposure as the way to bring ideas and practices into the mainstream. Maybe we women should all start covering our heads in solidarity with those wearing the hijab. The plus side for many of us would be no more “bad hair” days, and possibly less skin cancer.

 

America was founded on pluralism and freedom to express our differing beliefs. In my opinion,  the continued knee-jerk prejudice in place of attempts at education about others is un-American.

The eyes and actions are truly mirrors of one's soul.  We must stop mindless hero (and clergy) worship, as well as knee-jerk prejudices. My prayer for Pentecost is that we learn to see the humanity beneath the skin, headgear, uniform, occupation, profession, and religious words.

Pentecost Prayer Day 32

"Not in our family," should suffice as a rule,
Instead of changing behavior through ridicule.
Then offering examples of acceptable behavior,
As did the man Christians call their savior.

If we truly bond with the soul of another,
We work toward staying bonded as brothers.
To truly say, "Through all trials, I'm there for you,"
Is something meant by only a very few.

This assumes joint committed responsibility
To continue to strive for the best we can be.
My prayer for Pentecost is that our example
Of responsible compassion will become ample.

Pentecostal Prayer Day 31

Language is important, but more than that is the intent;
Sometimes words don't translate to what the speaker meant.
Does it really matter what we call The Sacred Spirit
If we use any name that causes others to fear it?

Healing conversation requires compassionate sharing;
This must be the root of all faith's proof of caring.
The religions that speak much without listening
Are, the purpose of community of faith, missing.

It takes great courage to hear with respect, silently,
The pain from which another yearns to be free.
My Pentecostal prayer is that we will support
Conversing in community, rather than in court.

Pentecost Prayer Day 30

I am energized by all the religious conflict being brought out into the open after the 9/11 bombings. We have long needed this international exchange to define our values vs. our religious rituals. It is challenging all of us to personally define what we individually believe.

These discussions may be difficult and divisive in the short term, but I believe they will bear very rich fruit. Many families in many cultures believe in the same values for their communities and family lives. If we continue to prosecute all those who use killing instead of conversation as a form of conflict resolution, we will eventually reach a consensus on creating peace on earth.

My prayer for Pentecost is that we will realize that all peacemakers are, in fact, parts of the earthly body of The Sacred Spirit.

Pentecost Prayer Day 29

There are some with whom I am comfortable discussing "God," but this is a limited comfort zone. Mostly, I ask people to tell me about their manifestations of "God." Even those who seem to share my values are often limited in their abilities to assume these same values in people of other faith tribes.

My hunch is that all who feel responsible compassion for their own families are capable of feeling the same for the families of others. We have been fed fear by many generations of wayward humanity, but it all comes down to all of us being made from the same "stuff." Cosmologists now say that all of creation is made of stardust. I love this belief system, and it only increases my sense of the sacred.

I am perfectly at peace believing that I was born of the most magnificent body in the universe, and that I am destined to return to being part of that great celestial "star."

My prayer for Pentecost is that we all see ourselves and all others as parts of The Infinite Power with bits of The Sacred Spirit instead of attempting to bring infinity down to our own limited levels of understanding.