Healing hating hearts with the song "One Prayer"

With his song, "One Prayer," Karl Anthony seeks to heal the hearts of those who hate. What would you pray for?

Karl Anthony has been writing and performing music for 20 years. All of his original songs reflect healing the human spirit through actions for peace, human rights, nonviolence, youth and the environment.

Karl and his wife, Jeanne Anthony, engage children in school assemblies with their interactive multi-lingual, multicultural songs, movement and dance. Their award-winning work brings high praise from teachers, administrators and, most importantly, the children. “Our entire community raved about what a wonderful assembly this was! Great music with the perfect messages.” said Rebecca Wardlow, Principal.

March 6, 2007 Karl uploaded the video of his original song "One Prayer" to YouTube http://youtube.com/watch?v=BQeeZDkMCUQ. "The song was inspired by thinking that there is a lot of pain in the world. It is ironic that so many challenges come from our beliefs. Yet, most philosophies have a supreme being the equivalence of God – Allah, Jehovah, Yahweh, Amlak, The One, The Divine and many others… What we have in common is that God belongs to all of us."

"Why do we pray? Is prayer effective? If so many people have some form of communication with God, through prayer, meditation, chanting, why not pray for things that are more difficult?" Karl asks. Thus came the idea to love and pray for our enemies.

Karl believes the song relates to all regardless of circumstances or where we reside. "We see through the lens we're living in," Karl says. "Michael Beckwith [founder of Agape International Spiritual Center, and theologian in "The Secret"] tells us, 'We can't deny things that are happening in the world." Denial negates someone's pain. "Bring love to the darkness.'" Michael urges. Karl's response is in his lyrics:

One Prayer

as written by Karl Anthony

If I had one prayer, Id pray for people who hate

Maybe I'm out of my mind ...or deep in my faith

A man grows old ...when his souls in pain

Only love can loosen that chain

But if I offer you grace, will it cause any change

And do I appear weak, if I calm my rage

I think of revenge, but will I become

The thing I despise, when a heart goes numb

Ill say a prayer, hoping it finds ...people who hate

I send it now, to heal the hearts ...of people who hate

If only one song ...could silence hate

And end all the war ...before its too late

If a cold mind ...could begin to feel

Then the fear in our world ...has a chance to heal

Ill say a prayer, knowing it finds ...people who hate

I send it now, to heal the hearts ...of people who hate

......pray for people who hate

All of our thoughts ...can set the stage

For the power of love ...is larger than rage

When we take revenge ...we will become

The hate we despise ...as our soul goes numb

I have One Prayer ...for the world to hear

Its a cry for mercy ...the last of our tears

Let hate dissolve ... let the past reveal

That love has shown us what is real

Angels above, quiet the pain ...in people who hate

Im sending One Prayer, to heal the hearts ...in people who hate

One prayer.....Pray!

(May all be loved, may all be blessed, may all feel peace ....pray for people who hate)

Im sending love to people who hate

I must be out of my mind ...or deep in my faith

Jeanne interprets the video through sign language with sensual moves and the rhythm of a dancer. Jeanne learned American Sign Language to inspire children she works with as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to communicate in multiple languages.

In the video, six-year-old Shivani, Karl and Jeanne's God-daughter, wears a red and yellow traditional dress of East India. Shivani skips around a San Diego public plaza handing out prayer cards to passers-by. In the voice of pure innocence and hope, Shivani speaks the line, "May all be loved, may all be blessed, may all feel peace. Pray for people who hate."

The card Shivani hands out reads "1P" on one side and "If I had one prayer it would be for people who hate" on the other. Groups and churches have requested hundreds of the cards. Some with "If I had one prayer …" leaving room for filling in your answer. The "One Prayer" video appears on KarlAnthony.com. The song is also on Karl's latest CD, "20 Years Later."

Among the many accolades received on YouTube, a few viewers of the video have commented that it is so beautiful why focus on hate? My favorite response comes from mdianemarks who says, "This doesn't focus on 'hate.' It focuses on LOVE. Give me a break …….someone has watched "The Secret" one time too many!