Green Oasis

My flight from religion has been tempered by my desire to accommodate my wife’s sensibilities and to fulfill what I can of the promises that I made to her in marriage and by my understanding that religion is a treasure trove of human wisdom which should not be dismissed lightly. Many religious practices hold real value. I try to discern what is of true value and hold on to it rather than define myself as irreligious rebel and throw out my baby with its bathwater.

Prayer is one religious practice that I find value in. It can be of immense value to sit together or alone and speak aloud our troubles and concerns; remind ourselves of all that brings gratitude to our hearts; express our hopes, goals, and deepest desires; and to simply separate out a sacred space in time where we meditate on our lives and commune together. There is power in prayer.

I had been praying all my life for divine protection as I start to drive my car. Recently, I have morphed that prayer into a meditation to focus my attention and purpose. I say something like this to myself, concentrating on each item: “As I drive, may I be focused, patient, courteous, conscientious, predictable, and alert. May I do all within my power to help myself and all my fellow travelers arrive at our destinations safely.” This simple meditation has effected a significant change in my attitude, a change which I didn’t experience before when I asked for divine help. This meditation puts the onus on me to make my drive safe. I am responsible for my own attitudes and actions. Me. This meditation helps psyche myself into a good frame of mind for driving safely.

I derive real strength from this kind of prayer. What I don’t miss from the old style of prayer is waiting for my answers and worrying constantly if I’m praying for the right things. What I do miss is unburdening my concerns on an omnipotent, benevolent being. I miss the singsong of the familiar formulas even more. It seems too abrupt to skip “Our dear Heavenly Father” and “In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen” at the beginning and end of prayers. Leaving those phrases out doesn’t separate the meditation satisfactorily from mundane conversation. I’m still trying to come up with a good set of formulas to replace these theistic phrases.

I feel a new power of transformation working in my life as I refocus my prayers to a transcendent being into an communion with my self. I gain insight into what makes me work enabling me to make personal changes.