hands and feet
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
We are his hands and feet.
And feet slip. Hands fumble.
Anxiety surfaces and may grip tightly.
Anxiety surfaces and may grip tightly.
What comfort to turn to David's faith, to the Psalms
for balmy consolation and loving hope.
When our emotional middle ground
crumbles away or fear begins to rise,
we may feel alone, even damaged.
In our depravity, we may long for consolation,
for joy to be restored.
And we may become still and quiet,
seeking the Divine Grounding Presence
with quiet consent:
Yes, God. Have mercy on me,
on these hands and feet that
belong to you.
There we seek a light for our darkness.
A way through the wilderness,
to follow back to unfailing love.
In secret, with slipping feet,
we may return to higher ground,
laying down all those uneven,
rough places in the soul.
How will glory be revealed?
We enter into the mystery
with hearts wide open,
waiting to receive.
Peace to you right where you are.
m
waiting to receive.
Peace to you right where you are.
m
prayer of desolation
Monday, January 11, 2016
HOLY HOLY GOD, I COME TO YOU
IN PIECES.
WITH A HEAVY BLACK SHROUD OF MELANCHOLY
THAT WON’T LIFT THIS DAY.
I KNOW THE SHROUD WELL.
I KNOW ITS VEIL OF INGRATITUDE,
ITS DESOLATION, ITS LONELY TEARS.
THIS DARKNESS SINKS DEEP
INTO TENDER FLESH
AND BENEATH MY BONES.
SINKS DEEPER THAN MY HEART
WHICH IS DARK AS THE OCEAN FLOOR.
WHICH IS DARK AS THE OCEAN FLOOR.
I CANNOT SEE.
I CANNOT BREATHE.
AS THE WEIGHT OF SUFFERING
DISFIGURES MY SOUL.
I CANNOT BREATHE.
AS THE WEIGHT OF SUFFERING
DISFIGURES MY SOUL.
I DESPERATELY LONG TO BE SPARED
OF IT ALL, YET I SEEK GRACE
TO TRUST AND TO TRANSFORM.
TO TRUST AND TO TRANSFORM.
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ARE GOOD
AND MAKE ALL THINGS NEW.
I KNOW YOU ARE WITH ME.
AND MAKE ALL THINGS NEW.
I KNOW YOU ARE WITH ME.
OH, GOD OF GOODNESS AND LOVE, OPEN MY EYES.
COME BREATHE YOUR MERCY ON THESE
SPLINTERS OF HOPELESSNESS SO I MAY
CLAIM THEM AS HOLY SHARDS.
AMEN
*Prayer and images by michele
*Prayer and images by michele
expanding our prayer palette
Saturday, January 2, 2016
From time to time, I will recommend books
relating to interior quietude...today's selection
is about prayer.
My prayer life has long been rich and full of wonder, but since
I began a daily centering prayer practice last year,
a brand new inner landscape of beauty has emerged.
Centering prayer is but one delicious entree
in David Brazzeal's creatively scrumptious
which challenges us to savor prayerful
courses as we might enjoy
a fine French meal.
Brazzeal's writing style is engaging and accessible,
and it's refreshing to be introduced
to so many artful avenues...
all with the intent of leading us
into deeper communion
with the divine.
For example, I learned how a simple French game
of hide-and-seek (Cache-cache) can become
an adventure in discovering God
hiding in the world around us
(and he surely wants to be found!).
"Learn to listen to subtle cues from your spirit instead of the barrage coming from your brain." ~David Brazzeal
the author makes his home in France
What an inspired book of uncommon prayers!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.
* * *
Curious about a centering prayer practice?
(sometimes called Contemplative Prayer).
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