I grew up Catholic and am grateful for the sense of awe and mystery that was instilled in me through my religious education. As an adult I chose to explore and embrace the Protestant side of the Christian house and am equally grateful for my experiences there. I am a traveler; I journey through life and the universe of spirituality. I am always seeking deeper and wider meanings to life. My personal expression of the Divine Presence in this world is eclectic and ever-unfolding.

At some point in my journey, I was given a prayer titled "O Creative Breath" and it caused my heart and mind to soar with its beauty and tender expression of Divine Love. This was given to me before the creation of the internet so I was not able to locate its precise source. I had only the name of the translator. I now know this is a compilation of six translations of the "Our Father" from the original Aramaic language that was spoken at the time of Jesus, the Christ.

I will share the compilation...

There are times when I wake at about 3:30 am. After a sip of water, I resettle myself and soon realize sleep will not return. Some weeks more times than not this is my experience. This time of year my windows are open so I fall asleep to cicadas, crickets or night bird songs. When I awaken now, the night is still. So still I can hear the white noise in my own head. Lately I have been able to dissolve into this soft inner sound and return to sleep. Not every time.

When it isn't happening, I simply have to surrender to the experience of resting without sleeping. I am grateful for the lack of frustration that arises now when the initial bouts of early arousal begin. Now, I meditate, pray for others or seek the inner wisdom I am needing for a decision.

The world is so unbelievably still during these hours. A gentle reminder that I also am created and designed for stillness. It is my fundamental nature, my True Self, the essence of my being. Once discovered, it became my oasis...