"In the war of magic and religion"

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In the war of magic and religion, is magic ultimately the victor? Perhaps priest and magician were once one, but the priest, learning humility in the face of God, discarded the spell for prayer. -- Patti Smith, Just Kids

Prayer #207: This Magic Moment

Magic never begs. The magician, in her hubris, leans on secret compartments and secret-keeping. Power rests with the hand the wields the wand and the eye that accepts the trick. Belief is complicit.

Not so with prayer. The supplicant, in her humility, senses the audience in the dark and wonders aloud if they are paying attention. Power rests with the palms that face up and the mind that stops minding. Belief is inadvertent.

Face me, God, nothing that I am. Magic's greatest illusion is that of control, but I'll never transform anything the way You can transform me. I'll do my best to hit my mark; I await Your reveal.

Amen.