Dearest God. 

     We do not offer our prayers to you in the hopes that you will act upon them, but rather, we offer them as an act of community in the understanding that Creation is perfect according to your laws and needs no further intervention on your part.  It is the joining together in community to share issues concerning our lives which unites us in the power of action according to your laws.  Our strength is increased in the knowlege that it is our combined prayer in community which unites us in common purpose to ease suffering, build hope, fight injustice, and share in the beauty of Creation.  These prayers are not for you to intervene in our affairs, but a call to action in our hearts and minds, that we may share those concerns as a spiritual community and together, act upon them as one.

     It is Thanksgiving time.  Probably the only true Deist "holiday".

     In the Buddhist tradition of mindfulness, it is a good time to center yourself.

     The meal you will eat didn't just appear before you.  thousands of people worked tirelessly to sow, grow, harvest, raise, kill, catch, clean , process, cook ,serve, package, ship, and sell what is set before you.  Be aware of the life which was taken (if you aren't a vegetarian).  Stop and ponder all of those who were behind what it took to get all of the goods to you and give thanks to them.

     Stop and give thanks for what is good in your life.  Stop and really thank those around you for what they mean to you and how important they are to your life.

     Finally, be aware that you are stardust and be in silent awe of creation.

"I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever... A vision of the universe, that tells us, undeniably, how tiny, and insignificant and how... rare, and precious we all are! A vision that tells us that we belong to something that is greater then ourselves, that we are *not*, that none of us are alone! I wish... I... could share that... I wish, that everybody, if only for one... moment, could feel... that awe, and humility, and hope."
"Contact"
Carl Sagan

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Yours,
Keith