WAG Gymnasts Prayer

[gothgymmom]

DD had her end of season comp banquet yesterday. Here is a prayer that was given to them:

Thank you for my hands all covered in painful rips
My sore knees, calloused feet, and the bruises on my hips.

Thank you for my leos and my ugly knee brace
For blessing me with power, strength, excellence, and grace.

For giving me the determination and resolve to do what it takes
To get up and shake it off when i've made a mistake.

Watch over me as I swing on the bars
Free hips and giants that reach towards the stars.

Stand beside me Lord as I wobble on the beam
Grant sticky feet and pointed toes for the entire team.

Push me as I run toward the vault so quick
Up and over with straight legs for that perfect stick.

Remind me to look at the judges and smile
Lift up my leaps and help me perform my style.

Thank you for my parents that give their support
So much love, time, and money to my costly sport.

Thank you to all my coaches, for that I feel so blessed
They teach me so much more than just routines and drills
But the courage and resilience needed for each new skill.

Now as I fall asleep and my dreams start to unfold
Re-fill them with visions of medals; all bronze, silver, and gold!

 

[emilykatherine]

I like this one:

Here stand at the meet
I pray for the competition I may beat
And if I fall admits the cheers
I pray I can hold my tears
And one more thin success or not
I pray the creator of the beam be shot

 

[Flipomaniak]

I would have felt so uncomfortable if I received a prayer. IMO church, school, gym etc should be separate (unless they belong to religious institutions, like private religious schools). Just my thoughts, I don't mean to offend anyone, its cute and all...

 

[Seeker]

It reads more like a poem to me than a real prayer. No reference to God or the dearly beloved or anything crazy. I thought it was cute for young gymnasts with their heads full of gymnastics hopes and dreams.

 

[MILgymFAM]

It reads more like a poem to me than a real prayer. No reference to God or the dearly beloved or anything crazy. I thought it was cute for young gymnasts with their heads full of gymnastics hopes and dreams.

It actually says "stand beside me Lord". As an atheist family we deal with this type of stuff at school, at military functions, and in the community, and I have been genuinely grateful that gym has been a respite from this stuff. I wouldn't protest if it were said, but probably would if it were pushed.

 

[gymbeam]

It reads more like a poem to me than a real prayer. No reference to God or the dearly beloved or anything crazy. I thought it was cute for young gymnasts with their heads full of gymnastics hopes and dreams.

oops, you must have missed this part:

Stand beside me Lord as I wobble on the beam
Grant sticky feet and pointed toes for the entire team.​

 

[Seeker]

oops, you must have missed this part:

Stand beside me Lord as I wobble on the beam
Grant sticky feet and pointed toes for the entire team.​

Yep, I did! Never mind then!!!

 

[happychaos]

It's a cute bit of prose with a nice message of gratitude. Sure, it mentions "Lord", but it is obviously NOT a "real" prayer, nor is it meant to be. Most atheists can still appreciate poetry, literature, and music that has religious undertones.

 

[profmom]

Some conservative Christians and Jews don't like insincere/unreal prayers because they believe one should take very seriously the idea of invoking God. I guess I feel that it's not for me to tell anyone they should be OK with a particular prayer because it doesn't bother me.

What bothers me about the above prayer is that the meter is inconsistent.

 

[momto2js]

In general, it is best to take what you want and leave the rest. Things like this vary before region on the country. We have been to meets where a prayer was said before the national antham. Being from the North West, it feels a bizarre, but here in the south it is common. Now we just roll with it.

 

[gasrgoose]

It actually says "stand beside me Lord". As an atheist family we deal with this type of stuff at school, at military functions, and in the community, and I have been genuinely grateful that gym has been a respite from this stuff. I wouldn't protest if it were said, but probably would if it were pushed.

Sounds like a very reasonable response to me. Our gym had a prayer before the meal at the banquet. I thought it was appropriate and appreciated. I would guess an atheist probably wouldn't view it the same way, except that it was clearly done out of love and respect of God. Most gyms are private businesses and that allows them to give out prayers, pray and exhibit their faith how they see fit. As a customer you are free to take your money and give it to a gym that complies with your thoughts. As a Christian I think there is a fine line between sharing your faith and shoving it in someones face. Unfortunately most of the time Christians fall on the shoving it your face side of the pendulum, mostly because we only look at things from our perspective not the perspective of others. A gymnastics banquet isn't the time to share your faith with every nonbeliever you can find. But at our banquet the gym is family owned and they pray before their meals at home, so at the banquet they prayed before their meal.

 

[cbifoja]

My family doesn't believe in any gods. While it makes me uncomfortable to have a coach put hands on my child and pray for her (had to speak up at that one), I have no problem standing respectfully for our pre-meal prayer. Obviously I don't "talk" to any kind of being in my head during this time...just kind of wait it out.

I'm glad that despite our HC and senior coaches being religious, it doesn't bleed over into her business because if it did, like gasrgood said, we WOULD take our business elsewhere despite my deep respect for and friendship with the owner.

 

[cbifoja]

Most atheists can still appreciate poetry, literature, and music that has religious undertones.

Atheists are such a hugely diverse group of people that I don't know that you can say that "most atheists" feel any way other than a rejection of a belief in any gods.

 

[Gymsanity]

The sooner the mods close this thread the better. I think we can all see where this baby is about to go.......... and it ain't a happy place!

 

[Muddlethru]

Jehovah witnesses knock on my door to promote their faith. I have Jewish friends and acquaintances sometimes force their "rights" on me and what they deem is unfair. I have my interest groups and political parties. I also have the fundraisers I support and it can be very annoying to be accosted consistently at the grocery store by various fundraisers and now many retail stores ask for donations every time I purchase something. While they are worthwhile causes it is too prevalent for me. So I understand atheists having to deal with organized religion being sometimes thrown in their faces. But you just learn to move on and pick your battles where it counts.

In addition, the "prayer(s)" above, strikes me as a gift that they felt may help their gymnasts and not meant to alienate a certain group. I don't like all the gifts I get. In fact, I don't like most gifts I get. But I still appreciate the thought and effort (and then toss it).

 

[cbifoja]

The sooner the mods close this thread the better. I think we can all see where this baby is about to go.......... and it ain't a happy place!

SO TRUE!!!! LOL

 

[happychaos]

Okay, well I guess to be accurate I should say that ALL atheists I personally know DO appreciate art, literature, music, and poetry even if some of it has religious undertones I suppose you are right that there are some atheists that categorically reject anything that might have a mere mention or suggestion of a higher being.

By the same token, all of my "religious" friends also can appreciate art, literature, music, etc, even if the artist or piece of work doesn't line up with their particular beliefs, but I realize this is not true of all religious people. Intolerance knows no bounds I suppose.....

I send my children to a Catholic school, and we are not Catholic. There are many other faiths represented at this school, including a large number of Hindus, whose beliefs are drastically different than Catholics. Obviously this is a choice, and is not forced upon us. I don't have any problem with my children being exposed to other beliefs and traditions, so I personally find it odd that some people are just SO opposed to hearing even a casual mention of a deity or tradition that they do not believe in.

BTW, there is absolutely no snark intended. I sometimes think my typing doesn't come across as I intend it too....

 

[cbifoja]

I didn't take it as snarky at all! No worries.

 

[gothgymmom]

wow..sorry this post has caused so much grief. Soooo not intended! The prayer was just put into the program with all of the other announcements. The gym does not promote religion, there are prayers before meals though at banquets. I thought this was a cute prayer. Im sorry

 

[gymbeam]

...

In addition, the "prayer(s)" above, strikes me as a gift that they felt may help their gymnasts and not meant to alienate a certain group. I don't like all the gifts I get. In fact, I don't like most gifts I get. But I still appreciate the thought and effort (and then toss it).

Food for thought, though: How well do you think the gift would have been received if it had instead been a Wiccan good luck spell or had the word "Lord" been replaced with "Allah" or "gods"? Probably not nearly as well.

wow..sorry this post has caused so much grief. Soooo not intended! The prayer was just put into the program with all of the other announcements. The gym does not promote religion, there are prayers before meals though at banquets. I thought this was a cute prayer. Im sorry

It is a cute prayer and no one said they would leave their gym over it, or even complain about it. It was just pointed out that those who don't share those beliefs would feel uncomfortable receiving it. While it is within the gym's rights, it is presumptuous of the business to assume everyone would be OK with something of a religious nature being shared with their children especially by individuals who are in the position to heavily influence the kids. The gym is not alone, though. In my experience, most Christians assume everyone else is, too.