thread: 2007-01-10 : Some questions about worship
On 2007-01-11, Meguey wrote:
To this day, I shudder when I hear the phrase "God-fearing."
Me too! I just don't get that part a-tall. To be in awe of, to feel humbled by, but to fear? Weird.
To me, the song is a prayer/blessing, especially by Shreyas' deffinition:
To me, prayer is how we salute the spiritual importance of things
The blessing song means pretty much what it means to Vincent:
either my family around the table with me, who sustain my body heart and soul; or else I mean fields, trees, cows, the tofu factory, whatever - the immediate earthly source of my sustenance, represented by the meal
But in my case, it also contains an acknowledgement of the transendant, gratitude for my physical, mental and emotional well-being, and awareness of the insubstantial things that sustain me, like music and art and friendship.
How about this other song that's common to our family?
May the blessings of God rest upon you
May God's peace abide with you
May God's presence illuminate your heart
Now and forever more.
Occasionally, the word Love is substituted for the word God (which, duh). It has been sung with 'Gods', plural, as well. This is sung at really important things, like births, weddings, major life changes like ordination and leaving home for college, and perhaps eventually at deaths. I'm betting most folks say "Yep, that's prayer" to this one.
