Offerings

[rebeccmeister]

Today at lunch, D and I sat and talked about atheism and prayer (I do miss our regular lunches together; our schedules this semester just generally don't coincide for lunch). We both have this feeling that the expression of gratitude for the miracle of good food to eat is important, even if we don't feel it necessary to call upon a deity in doing so. But then, we wondered, what would be an appropriate expression? No solid answer appeared, though we learned that we're both inclined to sing about things.

Sometimes I feel like my attitude towards prayer hasn't developed beyond an adolescent impatience with anything that isn't perceived as cool--I view it either with impatience (something between myself and doing something else) or irritation (it doesn't express the way I feel and think about things). I take pride in simply being able to quell my impatience (good for me, I can sit through an hour of church, etc etc). Sometimes I can derive more from the experience, but those times are rare. So how does someone like myself bring thoughts and feelings about existence to the table for a meal, a shared experience? How does one otherwise create time and space for reflection and celebration?

What immediately leaps to my mind are the beets that we ate on Sunday. They were so glorious in their roasted bloody pinkness, so delicious dipped into the yogurt-with-chives. We didn't really have to do much to make that meal special--eating it in an unusual place made it special enough (and oh, the bees!).

And I think of my Wiccan friend, V, who has created so many of her own rituals. And though I don't know the answer, I'm at least grateful to ask the questions.

Comments

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

I think you may also want an equivalent to the Jewish Shechiyanu, which is said for new experiences or moments of special joy (could be a holiday or a birth, but I suspect a religious Jew would also say it for something like, oh, say, finishing a bike ride from Phx to Tucson. The original goes:
Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom
She-heh-che-yoh-nu Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Ve-he-gi-o-nu Laz-man Ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season.

But I think a personalized version, even an agnostic or atheist one, might be satisfying to create. (You can google Shehechiyanu and find a 'modern' version or two.)

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

You certainly have a point there!

My parents also like the Jewish before-meals prayer that they have modified slightly to suit their perspective: Blessed are you, Creative God of all the Universe, through your goodness we have this food to share.

But I don't like referring to an illogical entity in such moments, so is it really fair/reasonable to permutate religious expressions to fit my desires?

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

I think by the time you were done with it, you'd probably have something changed enough that no one would consider it disrespectful.

I'd expect you might end up with something like "I give thanks to whatever forces or chance have enabled me to be here in this moment, and also to the previous experiences and humans I've met (including myself) who have prepared and enabled me to recognize and appreciate the joy in this moment." (That's off the top of my head, and I'm sure you can do better; you can certainly come up with something more personal and applicable to you.)

[zinniazayda.livejournal.com]

Last year, some of my friends started the tradition of reading poems before meals... Did a good job of moving us into that holy space of reflection and thankfulness for our food without referring to a god.

We had a different poem every day, but maybe you could choose a short one to memorize so you'll have it always with you. Okay, I don't know if the following would really fit, but it's a lovely poem nonetheless. And by Wendell Berry!

What We Need Is Here

Geese appear high over us,
pass, and the sky closes. Abandon,
as in love or sleep, holds
them to their way, clear
in the ancient faith: what we need
is here. And we pray, not
for new earth or heaven, but to be
quiet in heart, and in eye,
clear. What we need is here.

Wendell Berry

[rebeccmeister.livejournal.com]

That's a beautiful poem, and a beautiful idea! This morning I got to thinking about this book of Earth Prayers that I have, that I haven't looked through in quite a long time. It's non-denominational and might have more ideas for poems. That poem really does put me in a nice state of appreciation. Good old Wendell Berry. :)

[zinniazayda.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, this book is wonderful as well. I see that Amazon links to your book of Earth Prayers as well. ;)