Heaven on Earth
by Stephanie Dowrick
Allen & Unwin
Sydney psychotherapist and public speaker Stephanie Dowrick has written many life-changing books including ‘Intimacy and Solitude’, ‘Forgiveness’ and ‘Other Acts of Love and Choosing Happiness’. The premise of her latest book is that the function of prayer is not to influence a higher power, but rather to have an impact the person who is praying. This collection of prayers comes from her lifetime’s exposure to many faiths, religions and cultures and she has chosen prayers that reflect the power of “connectedness, joy, compassion, kindness, hope and forgiveness”. Dowrick reminds us that whatever our cultural or religious affiliations, we are “members of a single human and divine family” and her greatest hope is that each person will come to recognise we have to contribute to a kinder, fairer and more loving world.
Dowrick believes that prayer takes us beyond thinking, “connecting us to a dimension we call infinite”. Prayer is more than a desperate cry for help as can connect us with “the sacred within life”. It can be incorporated into your life as we pause between hectic moments of everyday existence. Dowrick believes that prayer gives us an opportunity to gather our scattered selves, open our hearts and embrace “praise, celebration, gratitude, delight and even humour”. Gratitude, for example, allows people to appreciate what they have rather than anguishing over what they don’t have. She reminds us that words create our perceptions and our truths and prayer can be an effective guide and teacher as it “deepens our knowledge of who we are and what life is for”.
These timeless prayers of wisdom and love are grouped in sections including prayers for daily life; prayers for times of need or sorrow and prayers of gratitude. Prayers to light the way draw people out of the shadows cast by fear and shame and give courage; prayers of celebration revitalise and energise and prayers for our world connect the inner and the outer worlds. This book needs to be kept beside the bed, flicked through and dipped into on a regular basis. You can heal, embrace parts of yourself and contribute to the well-being of all. There’s plenty to choose from including some by the author herself. Free postage within Australia
Lezly Herbert
