Friday, December 11, 2009

The Great Mystery and our Gifts: A Prayer for Saying Grace Before Breaking Bread

My dear family and friends here this evening, let us pause to say Grace and wonder at our countless blessings.

All of us here at this table, indeed, all 6.something billion of us inhabitants of our wondrous planet earth, are participants in the Great Mystery.

This Great Mystery leads us to the three essential gifts we have been given by our Creator, our Sustainer, our Redeemer.

The first essential gift is that of consciousness. This gift enables us to listen; to be aware; to wonder; to ponder the sacred and sovereign and profound questions. May we use our consciousness to listen carefully to the will of our Creator. May we wisely discern, respect, and fulfill the will of our Creator.

The second essential gift is that of love. This gift enables us to express love towards our fellow human beings and receive love from our fellow human beings. Despite the deep and ubiquitous sorrow, may we recognize and relish each opportunity to express love. May we warmly receive love and let it strengthen and nourish us. May we embrace and channel the love that exists as the constant presence of our Sustainer.

The third essential gift is that of mercy. This gift enables us to experience the world through the eyes of others. This gift teaches us to invest completely in the present process and divest completely from the future result. May we strive to serve one another with humility and leave a legacy of mercy and forgiveness, as our Redeemer has done for us.

Amen.

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