So – we’re back in lockdown.
As the Chinese proverb says, “It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” So one thing I can do is to send out a prayer a day. I want to emphasise that we’re all in this together by including prayers and thoughts from the major world faiths. My hope is that people can expand the range of prayers they can use, or at least gain understanding of our neighbours on this small planet.
Each week will have prayers and/or thoughts which are Christian (Western) on Sunday, Hindu, Alcoholics Anonymous, Buddhist, Christian (Eastern Orthodox), Muslim on Friday and Jewish on Saturday.
I have some acquaintance with Hinduism from the two months I spent in Tamil Nadu in India back in 1983, and I have a friend who knows quite a lot about it. Alcoholics Anonymous is a Christian-inspired programme which motivates millions of people. Of all faiths. Buddhism I know less about, but the oldest writing, the Dhammapada, is very fine. With Muslims, my experience is that it is easier to pray with them than to discuss. And my Jewish roots on my father’s side make it natural for me explore Jewish prayer.
Each week will have its own theme. The theme for this coming week is the morning, to help us say “Hello, Day”. The next week will be on ‘Foundations’.
Sunday Christian – Western
Almighty and everlasting God, I thank you that you have brought me safely to the beginning of this day.Keep me from falling into sin or running into danger, order me in all my doings and guide me to do always what is right in your sight. (1552 Book of Common Prayer, altd).
Monday Hindu
- All be happy
- All be without disease
- All creatures have well-being
- And none be in misery of any sort
- May peace and peace and peace be everywhere
- (Traditionally to be said first thing every morning).
Tuesday Alcoholics Anonymous
On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self- seeking motives. We ask especially for freedom from self-will and are careful to make no requests for ourselves only.
(Alcoholics Anonymous, p.86-87)
Wednesday Buddhist
Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most. (the Buddha – via Jonathan Lehmann, Insight Timer.com)
Thursday Christian, Eastern Orthodox
Creator of the morning,
who drives out the darkness
and brings light and joy to all creation:
create in us habits of virtue,
and drive away from us all
the darkness of sin.
With the light give us joy
by the glorious rays of your grace, Lord our God for ever. Amen
(Syrian Orthodox, from the liturgy of Kurisumula Ashram, a Benedictine monastery in Kerala, India. In ‘Discovering Psalms as Prayer)
Friday Muslim
We have entered a new day and with it all dominion is Allah’s. Praise is to Allah. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. To Allah belongs the dominion, and to Him is the praise and He is Able to do all things. My Lord, I ask You for the goodness of this day and of the days that come after it, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this day and of the days that come after it. My Lord, I seek refuge in You from laziness and helpless old age. My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell-fire, and from the punishment of the grave.
(Dua 3 of the morning prayers, from website Islamic Prayers)
Saturday Jewish
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates your world every morning afresh.
(Contemporary, from ‘God of a Hundred Na
