“God has a good purpose and destiny for our lives. It is God’s will for us to find beauty and value in the midst of trouble and strength and mastery in experiences of frustration and pain.” This is a quote from Dr. Georgia Harkness, a woman theologian from the early part of the 20th century. She wrote about prayer like a person who knew what she was talking about from personal experience. She also said, “Prayer matters in giving direction and meaning to life.” Prayer opens us up to that good purpose and destiny. When we pray, we are open to receive the resources God wills to give us to experience beauty and value in the midst of trouble and strength and mastery in experiences of frustration and pain. One of the staff members in the community where I live carries with her a copy of Weaving Prayer Into the Tapestry of Life. She told me that she uses it “for the hard times”. Her copy is beginning to look tattered and worn. We did not talk about what is happening in her life that fits the hard times description. (She was at work!) But she clearly is using it as a resource for praying and finding it helpful in connecting with God’s good purpose and destiny for her life. Georgia Harkness and she could enjoy having a good talk together. In fact, I could enjoy a good visit with Georgia Harkness myself! I would like to hear the stories behind this quote. She was widely appreciated as a person who had experienced beauty, value, strength and mastery.