This is not a (spontaneous) spiritual reflection. Someone submitted an A2A on Quora, and part of me is still wondering why none of the answers I saw mentioned the Lord’s Prayer. So, I had to say the Lord’s Prayer in an online forum. Because that is the answer to that question. Right? Also, whatever prayer people decide to go with is probably based on the Lord’s Prayer because if not for Jesus we would not be asking that kind of question in that kind of way.

So, hi dad. Love you too. I am not writing any more spiritual reflections for Lent. And, this is not funny. Although, it is funny. Call me. There’s this guy named Eli who I’d like to bug again asking if that was actually him talking.

I know it was really you The Whole Time. Don’t deny it. Don’t even try. We both know I am the worst evangelist ever, because I know you all way too well. Non-believers continue to perplex me in exactly that kind of way. Would it help if we hired a plane and wrote in the sky? (Note to self: find miraculous airplane to write in sky. It has to be a miracle. Maybe paint it pink and sparkly first. Should probably include apology for all the believers who have hurt you in the past somewhere in the message.)

…

What is a good and simple prayer, composed by a believer in God, that might be helpful to us believers or want to be believers in our daily lives, activities, and challenges?

Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed* be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.*

Hallowed means both holy AND honored as such.

Amen means it is true and is from Aramaic, because that is what the believer in God who designed this prayer spoke. He lived 2,000 years ago and is the founder of the world’s largest religion. He is the reason why I may not have needed to explain what Amen means to you as an English.

I believe this prayer checks all the boxes. I bet it still will in another 2,000 years. Because, Jesus Christ really is that awesome. (Another possible synonym for hallowed, but with connotations that would make it a poor substitute. Given that God and God’s “name” is literally beyond our understanding, I think hallowed works well enough.)

Note you do not need to be a Christian or a definite believer (yet) to pray this prayer. So don’t worry about that. Pray it anyway, if you want.

If you would like me to talk more about Jesus and how much I love him and why, I could literally spend the rest of my life doing that and not get bored. But you may already find this tedious. If not, ask me more. Any day. All day. I am not kidding.

Thanks for the A2A Will Lancaster. Hope this helps and that you all have a great day.

Peace,

Anne