In whose name?

Two of the most common types of prayer are requests and praise. Healing or guidance is sought. Awe and gratitude are expressed. Both types are similar in that they are addressed to some external divine power. Neither, however, makes much sense in a spirituality that makes no claim that God does (or doesn’t) exist.

But quiet, reflective times can be beneficial, both individually and to a community. Perhaps “meditation” is a better word to describe these times than “prayer.”

Although we assert the existence of the Human Spirit, we also know that the workings of the Human Spirit can be complex and even mysterious. So we can benefit from taking time to reflect deeply on difficult choices facing us. Sometimes solutions float to the surface as if by magic. We also know that the condition of a person’s Human Spirit can affect that person’s physical health. Meditation can nurture our Human Spirit and enlist the power of that spirit in caring for the physical body. We also know how easy it is to get caught up in our own lives and concerns. Taking time to reflect on the joys and needs of others enriches our respect for their Human Spirits.

It may be that meditation brings only psychological or spiritual benefits to the person doing the meditation. But we shouldn’t assume that we know the limits of personal spirituality, when in fact we don’t. We should be open to the mystery of meditation. And we know for sure that it can’t hurt to know that your community is sending you its collective best wishes. So, let us bow our heads in meditation.