To sing is to pray twice
St. Augustine
Every year near the close of summer, an interfaith committee has met together to plan a service of Thanksgiving celebration. Catholic and Protestant, Muslim and Jew, Buddhist and American Indian - and whoever else wants to join our planning.
We began this annual service seven years ago, our impetus being the anti-Muslim rhetoric that followed 9-11. And our belief that more was needed than conversations to understand each other. As Augustine said so many centuries ago that to sing is to pray twice, we believe praying together with our sisters and brothers of other faiths will multiply itself in the hearts of those who come. Each year 900-1000 people have gathered the Sunday evening before Thanksgiving.
This year we used a piece of my writing, which I never intended to be a part of the service. We had gotten stuck early in our process and I wrote the following as a means to move us ahead. Somehow, the piece lurked in the background - and became of a part of this year's worship. These words are good words to end the year.
Here is what I wrote as we all prayed together in the belief that life is good.
***
Open your heart wide — and your eyes.
Look around at faces of the people who are here.
Each person carries with them the story of their life.
Just as you do.
Let today stand before you, for it is the only day you have.
Your past recedes, your future not yet imagined.
It is easy to become lost in memories and to-do lists.
You can spend your time making plans for tomorrow, next week, next month.
And fail to take notice of today.
Life gives us no guarantees, only the gift of today.
You live in an incredible time.
Connected with the entire world via cell-phones and the Internet.
Freedom from plagues that once destroyed whole civilizations.
Friendships beyond our immediate neighborhoods.
There is so much for which to be grateful.
Open your eyes — and your heart.
Right now — turn to the persons sitting beside you, behind and in front of you.
Smile at them and let the goodness within you flow to them.
Let the goodness that surrounds you flow through you.
You will be blessed — and so will they.
Let your mind wander to places you have been in your life.
Remember the colors of autumn, the beauty of snow, new life in springtime.
These all are gifts to you.
Gifts we often forget in the busy-ness of life.
And you are a gift.
You are called to use wisely the gift you are.
In hard times and in good times.
People over centuries have passed on their wisdom.
They say, live this day as if it was the first day in your life.
And if it was the last.
Live fully in the present and you will be blessed.
For it is all you have.
