I've been asked to post my take on the big issue in Taber right now, prayer in school.
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy 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.
Thine is the kingdom,
The power and glory,
Forever and ever.
If I harmed you by writing that, I don't think the problem is the prayer. I think you need to sit down and examine your life a little closer and determine why it hurt you.
You don't have to believe in God for this prayer to have power. It works just as well translated into plain speak and internalized:
'OK, Ty. Everything's going to work out fine. Get through today, it'll be alright. Everybody makes mistakes, so don't dwell on those made by others. Don't eat that second helping of cake, and don't shoplift that chocolate bar. Just stay out of trouble, and remain humble.'
It's more or less a poem about how to be a good person. Saying it hurts absolutely nobody. They aren't teaching creationism in their history class. It ain't broke, so don't fix it. Fighting about whether or not it's said in a group setting will accomplish absolutely nothing in the big picture, but it will hurt the children caught in the crossfire of the conflict.
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