As citizens of this world and children of life and light, of God within, between and beyond, we pause to enter an expanding time of prayer and contemplation. On this day of passions and party and festivities, may we celebrate that there is no partiality because of creed, religion or race. For God is love and love is the essence of all things.

We dwell in the familiar places of our traditions and yet move to the deepest foundations of them. As we descend deeper and deeper to the center and essence of true religion and prayer, we are paradoxically pushed past parochial and predictable frontiers into cosmic citizenship that is true and holy. May we affirm that which is particular in our understandings, beliefs and rituals – to be grounded, assured, comforted. May we then be open to universal themes, realities and shared values in order to claim our birthright as planetary pilgrims and children of Life – together –as one.

We acknowledge Jesus and Buddha, Muhammad and so many others as lights in this world, these ones who showed us that we create our world through our thoughts and deeds. We challenge negative thoughts; we expose them where they shiver; we admit to giving more room to the words, thoughts and attitudes that diminish, limit and harm. Our seemingly harmless but negative thoughts are magnets that draw darkness to us as surely as iron bits are attracted to a magnet. This day we commit to positive thoughts, pure thoughts, life giving attitudes that are translated into virtue, peace and gentle action.

We train our tongues as the Buddha instructed; we banish evil thoughts as Jesus instructed so that we speak words of kindness, encourage others, defend those scorned or discriminated against, and speak the truth. We commit that all our expressions of our hands and feet and speech and thoughts would build up and serve others to help create a compassion-filled world full of beauty, happiness, justice and great enjoyment.

We abide in this community, remembering those who have been in accidents; those whose life ebbs away; those undergoing or anticipating chemotherapy. Those celebrating and wildly happy….those experiencing loss and change; those in relationship stress or change as well. Our thoughts, prayers, meditations, intentions we commit to all those around. We start with positive and life-giving thoughts, then move into prayer of all forms and commit to lively action and habits that truly transform this amazing community and world. On this Mardi Gras day, we indeed celebrate the spirit…and also the body…the celebration of the flesh as structure to all that is sacred. Amen.

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