I know we often get distracted in prayer by our thoughts, the noise, the scenery or the people around us. It is natural. Sometimes though, the best time in prayer, is when you turn everything around you into a prayer or thanksgiving. Our thoughts could become a centre of praise or a centre of seeking forgiveness for the thoughts going through our minds. Dangerous Beauty is a movie, set in the 16^th Century in Venice, and is based on a true story of a young woman, who was trained by her own mother to become a Courtesan, which means a prostitute that’s highly paid by wealthy and upper-class clients. It is almost like a Geisha in Japan, who is trained to entertain men through music, conversations, dance and is paid for her services.

As I sat down to pray this morning, my mind wondered to the movies I had watched and centered on “Dangerous Beauty”. I just started thanking God for the many opportunities women have to choose as professions today. We have so many opportunities to make a difference, and some of these women were properties with nothing to their name. The only wealth most could get was to marry into wealthy families, even if the man was twice their age. Courtesans were mistresses to the wealthy men, who married on contract, even if their wives tried to love them. They were taught to be good wives and bear heirs, which some of our cultures still instilled in us today. I am not saying this is wrong for a woman to be a good wife and to have children. It is a blessing for a woman to bear children, but their lives should not be limited to bearing children and being house wives.

These women were hated by the privileged married women, because they apparently ‘stole’ their husbands from them. Do we often sit and ask ourselves were we would be today, had life continued in that mind-set of the world? Veronica Franco, the main character, never wished for such a life. Though she was judged and condemned by the very people that used her, she fought back through poetry (see more http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/efts/IWW/BIOS/A0017.html) raising awareness of the unfair treatment of women by men. Education was mainly for men who could afford it, but Franco was able to gain it through her brother’s tutors. This set her above all the other courtesans, because she was able to hold  conversations, play music, ask intellectual questions to the men and provoke their thoughts.

In those days, Christianity was not what we understand it today. Everything was in black and white. So much hypocrisy was going on that true faith and virtue was not actualized. The very priests that condemned the courtesans were the same ones who would sleep with them. This is not to say we do not have that today. We still see Christianity used today for personal gain, and it does sure break our Father’s heart. We should be grateful for the faith we have in the Lord Jesus Christ today and his wisdom and knowledge, which leads and guides us.

I pray for the many homes, cities and countries, were women, children and youths are oppressed and deprived of opportunities, and were God has been misrepresented. I pray for God’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding to abound in these areas, so that people are able to show love, kindness, empowerment and encouragement. Before we judge a person, understand them, put yourself in their shoe and see life from their perspective. Proverbs 18:2 says “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion”. Help me Lord to be understanding, and to see things from your perspective.