Today’s Prayer to Passage continues within the ancient sacred texts of “The Rig Veda”. This month’s spiritual devotion to these Sanskrit writings will take place between May 1 – May 31, 2017.

Today I pray, “Dear God, Today I will be traveling home to be with my family — my parents and siblings and my father’s parents, my grandparents. This Saturday, tomorrow, will be my grandfather’s 90th Birthday. We will be gathering in his honor at my parents home with approximately 75 of his closest loved ones to celebrate his life. My grandfather has a spirit of joy and confidence. He tells a fantastic story. People know him for his devotion to the work he enjoys. I cannot recall ever being concerned that he was in a depths of despair. He has always occurred for me as fully vital, available, and purposefully intense with a detached yet upbeat nature. Thank You for my father’s father, my grandfather. And thank You for the celebration of his life. Amen.”

Following my prayer, I held the closed book in my hands and opened it to reveal this passage:

“HYMN XLIII. Aśvins.

1. WHO will hear, who of those who merit worship, which of all Gods take pleasure in our homage?
On whose heart shall we lay this laud celestial, rich with fair offerings, dearest to Immortals?
2 Who will be gracious? Who will come most quickly of all the Gods? Who will
bring bliss most largely?
What car do they call swift with rapid coursers? That which the Daughter of the Sun elected.
3 So many days do ye come swiftly hither, as Indra to give help in stress of battle.
Descended from the sky, divine, strong-pinioned, by which of all your powers are ye most mighty?
4 What is the prayer that we should bring you, Aśvins, whereby ye come to us when invocated?
Whether of you confronts e’en great betrayal? Lovers of sweetness, Dasras, help and save us.
5 In the wide space your chariot reacheth heaven, what time it turneth hither from the ocean.
Sweets from your sweet shall drop, lovers of sweetness! These have they dressed for you as dainty viands.
6 Let Sindhu with his wave bedew your horses: in fiery glow have the red birds come hither.
Observed of all was that your rapid going, whereby ye were the Lords of Sūrya’s Daughter.
7 Whene’er I gratified you here together, your grace was given us, O ye rich in booty.
Protect, ye Twain, the singer of your praises: to you, Nāsatyas, is my wish directed.”
—THE RIG VEDA

May we celebrate life in a way that honors our own lives. May we receive acknowledgement of our value in the distinct arrival that this acknowledgement is meant to present itself. We are, each and every one of us, so valuable. And love prevails. Amen.