Morning came slowly today. As I lay here thinking, it seemed that something was missing, and it took a moment to realise that the chorus of birds and the cardinal which sings right outside the window, weren’t there. The world was silent; the air close and still, grey overhead – and a feeling of almost waiting for something. I started thinking about this short prayer, of all things – so I guess this is going to be one of those ‘associative thinking and possibly non-sequitur days’.
“Dear God, so far today, I’ve done all right and I’m really feeling good about myself. I haven’t gossiped, or lost my temper. I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent, and I haven’t harmed anyone in any way that I know. I believe that I’ve done everything exactly the way you would want. But in a few more minutes, God, I am going to get out of bed, and knowing me the way I do, from then on I’m going to need a whole lot of your help.”
One of the things I find stressful about being a senior citizen is my increasing lack of patience in some ways – with younger educated people who are almost militant about issues, as if those issues are new, and unwilling to accept any difference of opinion at all. If you don’t agree with their perspective, then you yourself are part of the problem; or the opposite – people in public office – in the case of Ontario and Toronto – or running for public office – who can’t think their way out of a paper bag, and are proud of their ignorance.
…and so as I get up, prayers for the day also arise.
“O Great Spirit, let your voice whisper righteousness in our ears through the East Wind at the break of day. Let us be blessed with love for all our brothers and sisters on Earth so we may truly live in peace. Let us have good health mentally and physically to solve our problems and accomplish something for future generations. Let us be sincere to ourselves and make the world a better place to live.”
—Aho Mitakuye Oyasin All My Relations (Lakota Chief Yellow Lark)
