Throughout my recovery from child sex abuse I continue to have very rough spots. This last winter has been an extended period of rocky times. The early arrival of spring and summer weather has helped bring joy to my days. The one constant in every stage of positive growth has been my faith in a higher power. When I feel weak I know my faith is waning and when things get better it is because I let go of my pain and worry, and trust in the universe.
On that road, a friend recommended a book, Prayers of the Cosmos. A stop at Powell’s Books on a trip to Portland was rewarded with two used copies, one for me and one to loan out. I love the variations of the Lords Prayer and the Beatitudes. The author went back to Aramaic, the language spoken in the period, instead of using the Greek on which the King James Bible is based. Using the original dialect adds a lost richness and incorporates the mystic way of thinking of the times into the words of Christ.
I have renewed strength in having these words come alive in new ways. I offer one interpretation by the author Neil Douglas-Klotz, and then my own variation that helps the words come to life for me even more. As with the words of prophets of all religions this is intended to inspire and not to support one religion over another.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in Heaven
O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, You create all that moves in light.
Hallowed be thy name
Help us to let go, clear the space inside of busy forgetfulness: so the Name comes to live.
Thy Kingdom come
Create your reign of unity now- through our fiery hearts and hands.
Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven
Help us love beyond our ideals and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures.
Give us this day our daily bread
Grant what we need each day in bread and insight: subsistence for the call of growing life.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
Don’t let surface things delude us, but free us from that which holds us back.
For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever. Amen
Truly- Power to these statements-may they be the ground from which all my actions grow:
Sealed in Trust and Faith.
Amen
Aramaic translation of the Lords Prayer by Neil Douglas-Klotz from Prayers of the Cosmos
O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, You create all that moves in light.
Help us to let go and clear space inside of our busy forgetfulness, so that your presence comes to live within.
Create Your reign of unity now, through our fiery hearts and hands.
Help us love beyond our limits and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures.
Grant us what we need each day in bread and insight; subsistence for the call of growing life.
Loose the ropes of mistakes and guilt binding us, and help us release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.
Don’t let superficial things delude and distract us, but free us from that which holds us back from our true purpose.
In all Sincerity, Power to these statements-may they be the ground from which all my actions grow;
Sealed in Trust and Faith.
May it be so.
Adaptation by Randy Ellison
