Prayer for Our Earth

Prayer as Power Pose

After watching this Ted Talk given by Amy Cuddy, I find myself think of prayer as my power pose whenever I get into position (seated on a cushion, on the floor, legs crossed, eyes closed, shoulders and arms relaxed, hands resting in my lap, in front of a window facing east, feeling the morning light warm me).

 

A Fathomless Reservoir

Do you ever imagine that deep in your heart
There might be a fathomless reservoir?
Something that's ancient and hidden and pure?
For our country, that's no metaphor.

-Lyrics from "Ogallala Aquifer" by McCarthy Trenching

McCarthy Trenching performed at an outdoor prayer service that was hosted by the church I attend.  A stanza from the song "Ogallala Aquifer" was so beautiful that I had to share it.  (The link above will take you to recording of the complete song.)

Sometimes during prayer it does feel as if I have tapped into something fathomless and pure.  I'm always on the lookout for ways to communicate what a spiritual experience feels like.  If I use the Ogallala Aquifer as an analogy, would that help others to understand what I'm experiencing when I pray?

Confession during the High Holy Days

Confession is where E. Stanley Jones was heading.  After the section on self-examination questions, Victorious Living moves on to a section on confession.

Confession in the Jewish tradition is the topic of a recent On Being interview with Louis Newman.