Prayer, positive thinking, and the power of community...

Those of you who know me well know that I have never put much stock in the power of prayer. As an evolutionary biologist and Unitarian Universalist, my own 'theology' doesn't include a god that intercedes in earthly affairs, personal or otherwise, no matter how diligent or widespread the supplications. Although as Garrison Keillor likes to point out, it is pretty tough to pin UUs down on anything, in my experience most of us are more likely to talk in somewhat nebulous terms like 'positive energy' rather than speaking of prayers. However, over the last few days I have found myself thinking about prayers in a new light since so many of you have promised to 'keep me in your prayers.' I find myself wondering if this is not another case of getting tangled up in words and looking for differences rather than common meaning. All I know for sure is that my mood and my outlook are uplifted by your expressions of concerns whatever you choose to call them. If you pray, please keep me in your prayers. If you think in terms of positive energy, please keep sending it my way. Feeling the love of community is healing either way. Amen.