Stone Five, Part 2

Connect: Not only will I try to discern through mental activity, but I will also discern by connecting with The Divine through prayer, meditation, and contemplation.

Prayer has value, but the value doesn’t rest in getting what we want or in changing the mind of The Divine. Prayer’s value is in what it can change in us and how it can lead us. Instead of telling The Divine our needs and wants, which The Divine already knows, why don’t we try to ask questions for a change?

“What is happening? What am I missing? How can I best handle this situation? Is there a way to find peace in this conflict? How can I have peace and love in my life?”

These are just a few of the many questions that we might ask. Of course the bigger questions arise from time to time: “Is this all there is? What is my purpose? What do I keep making the same mistakes?” And then there are the religious questions we might ask: “Why am I being treated by my former religious organization as if I have AIDS? If they preach about love, how can they be so unloving and unforgiving?”

Prayer is the place to go to find change and growth for our personal lives. But this happens best when we follow our prayers with the practice of meditation and contemplation. We meditate in order to hear The Divine speak to us, and contemplation joins the practice of prayer, meditation and common sense into a powerful formula for spiritual stability, strength, and fearlessness. All of these combine with one simple rule that balances everything together: do to others as you want them to do to you. Treat us with love and respect.