Last Sunday, Nickie Kates, the chairperson and founder of our Caregiving Committee, offered an insightful reflection on the power of language in our lives. She gave several perceptive examples of how oftentimes people talk about fighting and battling illness in a way that does not contribute to our well-being. Nickie offered her own experience of living with chronic illness to demonstrate how instead of using battle metaphors life can be embraced with peace, resiliency and love. Her closing words speak volumes: "However unwelcome our personal vicissitudes in life, make peace and be well."

Today's service builds upon the message of last Sunday by considering further how to face the pain, challenges, and struggle of life at once reconciling ourselves to the way things are and opening to new possibilities. It has been said "Prayer is a path where there is none". When our minds and our hearts are unable to find a clear answer, prayer is a way to engage with the comprehensive mystery of our existence.

George Marshall in his book Challenge of a Liberal Faith invites Unitarian Universalists to take our faith seriously. Our faith as religious liberals is not external, but internal. He writes: "The Unitarian Universalist church makes no other offer than this: to help a person develop a faith that is within. Do not come to a Unitarian Universalist church to find a religion, to learn beliefs, or to be given a faith. Come only when you reach a point where all external faiths are rejected and you are ready to begin with the bedrock of your own being, experience, and character to construct the faith that is meaningful to you." Marshall reminds us that true devotion is not measured by pious actions, but inner fortitude when faced with the challenges of living.

This is a Unitarian Universalist congregation. Given that fact, this congregation, this gathering together of distinct individuals, contains a wealth of insight on prayer. Some of you may have been raised Catholic, reciting prayers routinely by heart maybe even hearing them in Latin. Many of you may have been raised saying bedtime prayers and continue that practice as an adult or perhaps with your own children. Some of you may say grace before each meal or during special celebrations with loved ones. Those of Jewish heritage may offer the traditional prayers in Hebrew and English marking the Holy Days of the liturgical calendar. Through yoga and silent meditation, many may experience the opening of the body and the heart through those spiritual disciplines. Many here today are spiritual seekers who have consciously left behind religious observances that do not hold true. To some, prayer may no longer have meaning for you or simply has never been a part of your life.

Whether you are a Theist, Christian, Pagan, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Humanist, Naturalist or Scientist you have the capacity to pray if you so choose. Prayer can be addressed to a personal God or Goddess or to your own deceased ancestors and mentors. Or your attention can be addressed to a Higher Power, the Spirit of Life, Source of Creation, the Universe or your own conscience.

Prayer has entered my life only recently. I was raised as a Unitarian Universalist. Our religious movement is always changing in style and practice so although the Lord's Prayer had been recited in the lifetimes of older members of First Parish, the Sunday liturgy included a spoken meditation followed by silence. Part of the training to become a minister includes serving as a chaplain in a hospital. I did my Clinical Pastoral Education at Massachusetts General, which is a critical care facility. The patients who I visited were experiencing significant pain and coming to terms with their own limitations and fears. We were given pamphlets to share with the patients with many kinds of prayers. The pamphlet drew from many different religious traditions and even had some prayers to be said before surgery or to endure waiting.

Part of Clinical Pastoral Education includes meeting regularly with a supervisor. My supervisor was Sister Sheila Hammond who transformed all of my preconceived notions about nuns. She did not wear a habit but dressed in vibrant colors. Sister Sheila is one of those people who looks you right in the eye, and listens and speaks with the same direct approach. She was an excellent supervisor for this religious liberal because she pushed me to articulate my faith.

I remember vividly one session when Sister Sheila and I discussed prayer. I enjoyed giving the pamphlet and sometimes reading a prayer aloud to a patient however, I was at a loss about how to pray with patients given that I had never done so myself. I did not want to offer flowery sentiment or to offer words that contradicted my own beliefs. Sister Sheila explained to me that even she did not offer prayer on every hospital visit but assessed where it was appropriate.

The pivotal experience came when she pushed me to deliver a prayer for a troubled patient who we had discussed. Even though I was in Sister Sheila's office and it was just the two of us, I was very nervous offering my first prayer. This was completely new ground for me. What could I possibly say? I closed my eyes and spoke aloud the deepest fears of the patient, asking that she find some relief from suffering, for her strength to be renewed and for her to be embraced in love. After I did this, tears rolled down my face. I was touched by the power of this act to name the unspoken hopes and fears of the patient and I was cognizant of the risk involved. Prayer is different from silent meditation where the spiritual objective is to be simply open and receptive. I recognize the power of speaking aloud to God as a way to release negative feelings and to live with greater intention.

This occasion marked a significant religious discovery for me. I am grateful to Sister Sheila for being with me through that experience and helping me to find my still small voice within. Since that meeting with her, I have offered many prayers both with patients and church members. Readings and silent meditation remain more familiar and comfortable, but sometimes circumstances call for a prayer to speak the unspoken struggle and to encounter life's mystery.

John Carmody in his book How to Handle Trouble: A Guide to Peace of Mind asserts that "Faith is the ability to go beyond the facts and entrust oneself to life positively." All our lives we are in need. To a greater or lesser extent each one of us has areas in our lives that are incomplete, experiences that cause grief, and the knowledge that we have fallen short of what is expected of us by other people or what we expect of ourselves. Some of us may be struggling with addictions, mental or physical illness, or the breakdown of relationships. There are times when we are confronted with our own limitations, when life's demands upon us are greater than our own resources to handle them. Sometimes the burdens are too great for us to reason our way out of them. Sometimes our hearts are so full of grief to allow little room for love to enter in. At such a time, prayer can be a powerful tool to reconcile oneself to the way things are and open to new possibilities. I am not suggesting that prayer is the only path of healing. It is important to share our troubles with other people who can help us: friends, family members, clergy, therapists and doctors are good resources for healing. Alongside the much needed human support, prayer can be a way for us to drop our defenses and invite faith, hope and love to enter into our lives more fully.

"Dear God, please just let me win Powerball! I promise to be good. I would even give some to the church to fix the steeple. If only I had millions of dollars, I know all my problems would disappear!" Although this may be a common prayer, this is not the type of spiritual practice that I am encouraging (although contributions to fix the steeple are always welcome). It can be cathartic to ask for your heart's desire however, I do not believe that petition or asking for favors is actually effective. Prayer is not a magical incantation. Pouring out your soul will not cause all your problems to vanish or for Ed McMann to suddenly ring your doorbell with a big check.

It is an understatement to say that life does not always unfold in the way that we think it should. Although we have choices about how we live, there are many factors beyond our control. There have been many times when I have been disappointed to learn that something I felt was my next step did not come about, only later to recognize that allowed for an even better opportunity to enter in. I invite you to think a moment about a time when you were sure of your next step only to be turned in a different and ultimately more positive direction. So although it is powerful to acknowledge our wishes, it is important not to expect exact results. "Faith is the ability to go beyond the facts and entrust oneself to life positively." In articulating our deepest longings, asking for strength and guidance, and remaining open, life can unfold in unforeseen ways.

Many people have shared stories with me about how when they felt they had reached a dead end where they had no idea where to turn next, they offered a prayer, engaging with the divine mystery, asking for guidance, and an answer arrived. That answer is as diverse as the beliefs of the individuals: sometimes a prayer is answered by a fresh idea or commitment, a person or program might appear, or there may be a feeling of renewed confidence. As I said before, "Prayer is a path where there is none." This spiritual practice can open our lives in love and trust, empowering us to work for justice.

Prayer is also a way for us to express our awe and gratitude for life itself. If you know only one prayer, let it be "Thank you". Offering thanks daily for all the goodness that surrounds and sustains us is a powerful form of prayer. Taking the time to affirm the blessings of our lives can deepen our relationship with the world. Saying "yes" to life both in times of challenge and joy can cause us to fall in love with all of creation and remind us never to delay the kind words and generous acts.

What is your internal faith?

What source of strength and wisdom is found in the bedrock of your being?

In the silence, allow a word to arise from your still small voice within.

- SILENCE -

Now that a name has arisen for the source of your faith, together let us offer a silent prayer naming our fears (both personal and global) and asking for guidance.

- SILENCE -

May the source of your faith, help you to face life in all its beauty and pain, goodness and struggle. Together may we be empowered to create an ever more just and loving world.

Amen.