One of the things we all have in common is that sometime in our lives we all experience times, technology, terror, tears and truth. We experience what the times do to us - times of exultant joy, times of deep grief, times of unbelievable passion, times of unbearable loss, times of quiet calm, times of heartrending sadness, times of undying love and times no one can comprehend.

Technology has become pervasive in our lives. The need of technology to send an email to a friend, technology to answer a call waiting from an important client, technology to print a picture of a loved one, technology to climb the last mile on the treadmill hill, technology to play that special song on our IPod, technology to cook dinner in our microwave.

We face terror on international and in some cases personal levels. Terror that 9/11 may happen again , terror that a loved one will be called to military duty, terror that cancer may take a friend, terror that my child be lost, terror that my business fails.

We all experience tears far too often. Tears of deep physical pain, tears of depression, tears of loss of a friend, tears of a career failure, tears of want, tears of need.

We need to know the truth about our lives and how to go on. Where do we find such truth?

In prayer!

But, you say, I don't know how to pray. It's understandable. It's not your fault. Very few people ever teach us how to pray or how to deepen our praying. Even the disciples said to Jesus, "Teach us to pray." Jesus then described perfect prayer to the disciples when he said, "pray this way." Base your prayer- life on the time-tested beliefs and practices of giving God our thanks, giving God our praise, and praying the prayer Jesus gave to all of us - the Lord's Prayer.

Start by giving God your thanks for life-giving energy to face each new day, thanks for strength to meet the challenges of being a parent, thanks for a sunny day, thanks for the sound of a child's laughter, thanks for a warm home, thanks for health.

Continue by giving God your praise by reaching out to someone in need of a kind word, praise by sharing your talents with your church family, praise by lending a helping hand to a neighbor, praise by spending time with your spouse.

Conclude by praying the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, "Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed by Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive our trespasses and forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory forever. Amen."

Times, technology, terror, tears, and truth - thanks, praise and The Lord's Prayer - start watching God move Heaven and earth with your eyes closed.