Prayer As Action

“We... seek God’s presence anywhere we are and in anyone we’re with. This is prayer as action...” - In God’s Care, March 28

Today is to be one of those days where I expect it to be quite easy to feel God’s presence where I am and in whom I am with. It’s to be a full day for me at Unity of Sedona: singing in the Mystic Choir, attending two services, joining in fellowship, participating in the annual meeting, and being of service. A time full with the love and joy of my (somewhat) new family.

The latter part of the afternoon Rog and I are going on a picnic. Yes, a real live picnic here in Sedona, here in the delightful springtime! We are the connecting piece of friends from Tucson/Clarkdale who used to work with our new Unity friends. A small world! So the six of us are getting together to get to know one another better, to celebrate, to connect.

As I said, I expect it to be an easy day to feel and fill up on the love, joy, and peace of Spirit. There are some days when feeling God’s presence is not that easy and poses quite a bit of a challenge.

Those are the days when more than ever I need to be not my ‘little me’ but the ‘big me’ that is my true essence. Those are the days that prayer is more important than ever. Those are the days when I need to really be conscious to seek God’s presence right where I am and with whom I am with.

That is prayer as action. And, that is knowing that wherever I am, I am with Spirit, standing together on holy ground.

Prayer for the Day

Dear God -

May I start first with feeling Your Presence. From there may I exude Your Love, Joy, Peace, and Grace to others I meet on the path today.

Please increase and enliven my trust and faith in You and Your works, and leave the fears and littleness of the ego by the wayside so that I may enjoy this day and You can make Your demonstrations.

As I leave the Silence and go out into the world today, may I feel Your Presence and hear Your Voice at all times, and may following Your guidance flow with ease, grace, and joy in a perfect way.

Thank You, thank You, thank You; and, so it is.

Cries for Love

I arose from bed last night around midnight and worked on a client’s website until 3 AM. Sure, I love doing website design, but the stronger reason for following such an off-beat schedule was the barking dogs next door – and their screaming mom.

This has been going on ever since these folks moved in, but with no need for a/c these days and the windows open wide, the sound is especially loud. Part of me wants to scream above the screaming mom to stop screaming. But the spiritual, loving, understanding, more mature part of me knows better.

A Course in Miracles says that there is only Love - a person is either extending love or crying out for love. Everyone in this circus next door is living in fear (the seeming opposite of love) and crying for love.

From almost the beginning, there was no doubt in my mind that our neighbors were a dysfunctional family. It showed in the way they take care – rather do not take care of - the property, their children, their health, their plants, their pets. When Mom screams at the pooches it’s because she just doesn’t know what to do, and is projecting her fear onto them. And, the pooches are making a ruckus because they’re not comfortable living outdoors (especially in 115 degree weather), tethered, and lacking attention. Everyone seems lost.

So even though last night I gave up on getting some sleep until the wee hours of the morn, I did send loving prayers to dogs and humans alike. They’re all hurting, they’re all in need of love. I can do my best to give them that; then I release them to God.

Time and again I am reminded that the circumstances in life in and of themselves are not as important as how I respond to them. I am grateful for my awareness and for conducting myself in a loving matter.

Perhaps tonight will be the night that my neighbors feel love, settle down, feel at peace and rest in the quiet of night - I’d like to join them.