Prayer

    Ah yes, prayer, something some of us do, don't do, or should be doing. One of the things that has been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember. Even if it was just a promises to help or get me out of trouble. I've changed a lot over the years and am still trying to learn from past mistakes. When praying to your Higher Power (i.e. H.P., God, Goddess, Mohammed, Buddha, Great Spirit, a *door knob, etc...) one must be careful for what one asks for. Examples: when praying for patience, usually you end up getting a bunch of jerks put into your life to try your patience. Why?? Prayer answered, you are getting lessons on HOW to be patient. Or praying for financial relief, bam, you get an offer for a job that really sucks, doesn't pay worth a darn, and you don't want to do it, but prayer answer. This is not "public assistance" where you get what you want, how you want it, but on It's terms, your Higher Power. They maybe test to see if you will except the help unconditionally, or to take the steps necessary to get where you are or want to go.

Another thing about prayer is that you just can sit back while listening to J. Geils band sings "You Got to Give It to Me". No, there is more to it than that, call it "foot work". Prayer without being followed with meditation is like asking an important question and not waiting for or listening for the answer. Like in prior examples, if you not learning patience, you’re getting frustrated and pissed off for really no good reason, your wasting your energy on negativity. And unlike with electricity, nature and spirituality works quite the opposite. Negative draws negative, and positive draws positive. Or like financial relief, if your sitting and waiting for the phone to ring and not out looking for ways to make it manifest, or come about, why should “It” help you if you’re not willing to help yourself. or except what it may offer. Such as the job offer above. Do you know for sure that there may be a life lesson in that job for you or a way of maybe helping someone else that needs to learn from your past lessons? H.P. answers prayers the way it see fit to or as you need to learn from.

And I maybe old school but I was taught many years ago to pray in a 3 tier fashion. First, give thanks and gratitude for that which is in your life. Second to pray for others, those you see in need, and especially those you may hold a grudge or resentment for. And third, for ones self. I have been using and teaching this practice for many years. A friend recently came back to me after talking to another about what I had taught them. They were told that this was “old school” and that you should always put yourself first. This I personally see as a selfish act. Like placing yourself before, above others, or your needs were more important. I believe that NO One is above nor below, or more important than another. I pray in this fashion to remind myself of that. I allow my H.P. to decide which order of importance to put things into; I am not the judge of this.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and please feel free to leave any comment you so choose to leave. Stay Safe!!!

Love, Peace, & Prayers

David Standing Oak

* Now your questioning yourself about the door knob (has he lost his mind?). Metaphorically or philosophically speaking, and door knob can be used by those that have lost all faith or never had any to begin with. How? A door knob has a certain amount of control of your life. If you don’t reach out to it (Prayer), you’re going nowhere. If you don’t use it or turn it (meditation and receiving what is given), you’re still going nowhere. And if you don’t pull it or push it (Foot work) you’re still stuck in the same old stuff.