Dear God, from me...

Language. It's a fascinating subject, especially the fact that our language that we think in constrains and limits what we are capable of thinking. I'm no expert on any of the myriad subjects that I've just skimmed upon, but I love the idea nonetheless.

I'm sure my Islam lecturer will agree with me when I say that I think that prayer and poetry have a lot in common. Having been brought up by anglican collects and specific prayers, I love the way that one can, with a little time and effort, add a beauty of eloquence to a prayer that can (in my opinion) make it that much more uplifting.

Whilst I obviously (see previous posts) see limits as to the direct effectiveness of prayers, I think they're a fantastic way of getting ones thoughts in order. What do I want from life? Where is it going wrong? What's gone right? Prayers are not simple. If they were, I would simply pray for the health and wellbeing of everyone ever, amen. It can be a deeply profound personal and social tool for spiritual consolidation and development, and of course a source of hope and comfort for those who do believe in the classical idea of prayer.

To finish, an example that I've listened to innumerable times at the end of a service, but still find a fantastic piece of eloquence and verbal skill:

God grant to the living, grace
to the departed, peace
to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth and all Humankind,
unity, peace and concord.
And may the blessing of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
be with us and remain with us always,
Amen.

FiF