Prayer and other thoughts.

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As prayer life increases thoughts regarding prayer grow.  Subjects, to include literally how and what to pray, why to pray, whom and through whom to pray, and what prayers to pray or how to better formulate prayers... almost overwhelming considerations... all join to begin a learning process.

I tell you truly there are well raised young ones who do better, if all incentives hold.  Instinct from habit, nonjudgmental acceptance, a type of innocence, a state of humility due to their current stage in life, and other things develop a superior ability.  I can't even recall all of the stages for a full prayer.  Humility in acknowledging the presence and greatness of God, a contrite gratitude for the forgiveness offered by God, simple yet profound gratitude to God for life creation and all, and a purpose for or with the prayer? Well, I prefer to include these things for each of the Trinity.  Still not sure I have that right.  More or less time for any area, time allowing.  Though not always is a full prayer the way.  A simple blessing, or prayer of concern, requested or not, and simple prayers for travel or this or that.

Now I learn there are as many as nine stages of prayer?  Well... what.  Oh, and I am only on stage one, maybe two or touching into three but not well?  If it weren't for some notions, including that the information comes from digging toward the goal, the ego could take a serious dent.  Still does, just not a sting which paralizes.  Oh, but it does lead me to mystics.  *le sighe*

The last part of praying to discuss is a major aspect I have been missing, requests, for self.  Hmm, pray for yourself, I used to question?  What do you need, if health and one other grant, are not happening?  Yes, simplistic, too simplistic.  What indeed!  Humility, to top the list though with patience prudence and others piling up, and with even wiser calls for faith hope and charity needed more seriously and soon.  It isn't that the prayers need to be either or.  I mean, I can pray for the health of one or many, the right intentions of the church, for the health wisdom and graces of priests nuns and the others, AND for strength in my weaknesses.

Yeah, so many prayers not being fully utilized.  Still, better to start now.  What good are prayers?  I can't say that I have seen a miracle from such.  I simply believe this to be true.    I don't count my life, for various reasons, including, if wrongly, I didn't pray to keep it, quite the contrary.  Although, one could say God acted, on my better behalf, through prayers?  I could easily abide that.  Miraculous if in an extremely convoluted way.  If it, I suspect, is the way of God's will very often.  His will, not ours.  Even should we pray contrary to His will, by praying to God we open ourselves, subject ourselves, to His will?  Yeah, I think so.


On another topic, a new knowledge.  I have written regarding the thieves who died with Christ.  The one who accepted Christ and went to heaven not only has a name, but is the first Catholic saint, as Jesus owns the keys He gave to the Church.  Further, who would become St. Dismas had an earlier involvement with Joseph, Mary, and Jesus as a baby.  Quite the thing, not sure how that was not remembered.  Just thought to share this as well.

Well, enough.  Later or maybe sleep?  Dunno.