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%REGAIN REVEAL RECEIVE WHOLE HEALTH PARTICIPATE JOY+920902
%STORY FALL SOMEBODY CAME SAVE RECOVERY RETURN HOPE+920902
 %NATURE PRAYER MEDITATE INTEGRATION WORDS ATTITUDE 920903

     The  nature of  prayer  is not essentially that of  a
string of words,  whether spoken publicly,  privately,  or
silently in the mind/heart/soul.

     The  essence  of  prayer  is not to be  found  in  or
defined by any string of words, no matter what the content
or manner of offering of the string of words.

     Prayer is not essentially a message sent from a human
to  God;  whether the message be one of  praise,   thanks,
adoration, or petition.

     Each  exclusive  definition of the nature  of  prayer
does  violence  to  the experience of  true  prayer.   The
essence  of prayer cannot be captured and presented in any
string  of  words;  no matter how well informed,   poetic,
mystical, holy, authoritative, etc.

     Prayer  has to do with being truly in the presence of
God in dialogue with God and self.  In prayer we  honestly
come  to  know our unique selves,   our  potentials,   our
weaknesses,  our failures, and our possible fulfillment in
God's  creation.   In prayer with God we recreate our true
selves  when  we  have gotten off  the  track,   confused,
discouraged, mislead, or worn out.

     In   true  prayer  there  are  attitudes,   feelings,
desires, emotions, and ways of being present which are not
fully  contained or conveyed by any string of words.   Not
all attitudes,  feelings,  desires,  emotions and ways  of
being present are prayerful. Many of them are inconsistent
with prayer. In true  prayer  those which are inconsistent
with prayer are let go.

     Prayer which is for show is not true prayer.

     Prayer which is for manipulation is not true prayer.

     Prayer which is not honest is not true prayer.

     Prayer which is just verbal is not true prayer.

     We cannot discover true prayer if we do not seek it.

     Nobody can give true prayer to us.

     Nobody can define true prayer in exclusive terms.

     True prayer is holy.

     True prayer is sacred.

     True prayer participates in mystery.

     True prayer can be present in any human situation.

     True prayer is present in all fully human situations.

                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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