The Ecumenical Christian

Have you taken a few moments to give thanks to your Higher Power today?

I thank God:
- for sleeping well
- for a sunshiny day
- for my creative muse
- for knowing the value and beauty of being able to "touch"
- for not abandoning me

I have come to the conclusion that members of varying Baptist churches and, perhaps some other non-Catholic churches are very good at public praying. It seems that many of them, on the spur of the moment, can belt out beautiful prayers, a sweetness to the ears of all who are present.

I am a Catholic; I was born and raised in the Church from the time that the Mass was still said in Latin. The faithful came in quietly and left the same way. The only person who spoke was the priest. There were no outbursts of prayer and thanksgiving during the service, no music that made you want to clap or dance in holy joy or run around the church because you could not be still. Since I have gone to a number of Baptist and COGIC services, I have seen congregations participating in their church services in many ways, some of which I have stated already. I was not very comfortable with some of it and somewhat confused by it. Now I am okay with it and I understand a need to move because the Holy Spirit is so strong within your soul.

The one thing I have not mastered very well, though is praying aloud before others. It un-nerves me to do so. I am getting better, but I have spent so many moments in quiet prayer until voicing it for others makes me nervous and I become uncomfortably self -ware of what I am doing, ergo, I run through the prayer or stumble on the words. What is so strange is that as a storyteller, I have stood in front of as many 500 people to tell my stories, but when praying a loud I stumble. I am determined to get better at doing this. I have a couple of moments when I have not been so self-conscious and I hope to have many more.

I hope all of you have a terrific day!

“I've always thought that a big laugh is a really loud noise from the soul saying, 'Ain't that the truth.'”
~Quincy Jones (born 1933);
Record Producer, Musician, Conductor

Namaste...