A Prayer for All

I have often wondered about the possibility of one universal prayer that would break through the barriers of all the different religious beliefs, and somehow connect everyone and not offend anyone…..tall order, huh??!! After all, if we were able to all connect like that, then I suppose we would have to give up war and other life-threatening dis-eases (oops, sorry, a little sarcasm just slipped out!!). As I have thought about that more and more, what keeps coming to me are prayers that I believe the indigenous people of the world might use. Or perhaps prayers of the “old ways” that were uttered long before religion became the institution that it is now.

So here is my version, which I am sure will bother some and not connect with others, but it is a beginning…..

Oh, Great Sprit of Lifer
We honor You and welcome You into our lives todayr
We are grateful for Your presence

Father Sky and Mother Earthr
Thank You for the Air that we breather
And the Land upon which we walk

As we look to the Northr
May we seek and find the Wisdom of the Buffalo
Likewise, we honor and welcome the Spirit of Leadership into our lives todayr
Teach us to be Benevolent
And to not walk the path of the tyrant or the weaklingr
But rather, in Your path of Order and Direction
As we look to the Eastr
May we seek and find the Illumination of the Eagler
Likewise, we honor and welcome the Spirit of the Warrior into our lives todayr
Teach us to be Courageousr
And to do no harm to ourselves or to othersr
But rather, to walk in Your path of Decisiveness and Determination

As we look to the Southr
May we seek and find the Spontaneity and Playfulness of the Coyoter
Likewise, we honor and welcome the Spirit of the Love
into our lives todayr
Teach us to be Passionater
And to not walk in the path of the addict or the impotentr
But rather, in Your path of Purpose and Commitment

And as we look to the Westr
May we seek and find the Introspection of the Bearr
Likewise, we honor and welcome the Spirit of the Wizard into our lives todayr
Teach us the power of Internal Wisdomr
And to not walk the path of denial or manipulationr
But rather, in Your path of Boundaries and Insight

Oh Great Spiritr
Thank you for the wholeness of Life that You give usr
We ask You to lead to us to our own Highest Goodr
And to do the Highest Good for all…