Waiting in Silence

This a.m. in stillness and reflection I was prompted by my online participation in Birthing the Holy "to move to the edges of what we know, to grow less comfortable and stretch ourselves into new places."  In general to be alert, awake, and faithful for the coming of that which we can only imagine.  As I attempted to clear my mind of external distraction, a poem that I wrote last year regarding faith and the willingness to wait in silence for the coming of our Lord, came to my mind.  I share here again that poetry......

Faith from the dirt

The ground - such faith lives in the dirt
It prays that the seed will take to its bed
That the soil can once more quickly envelop its teeny charges, with few escaping to death
It begins to pray for water

How can the soil expect its prayers to be answered again
Year after year, it prays for water and the water comes
In a cloudburst from heaven or the steady misting from a man made device
It continues to pray for water

The soil is patient as a parable
Always sure of its purpose
Most assuredly aware of the pathway to harvest
But probably never aware of its power and strength to feed the world

Unknowingly the seeds nestle into the soil and nurse from the rain's benevolence
Swelling into abundance and bursting into the glory of green life
The soil is hidden now, a lowly shade of dirt brown next to the brilliant green crop
But its job goes on, supporting, bolstering, strengthening the sheaves

Now praying for the warmth of the sun
The scarcity of feeding deer and trampling elk
The sun hears and responds with glorious scorching warmth
Baking the wheat to a golden field of dancing abundance

The soil gives its life to the harvest
And mourns the wheat's departure with fine layers of dry, airborne dust
The soil will miss this crop and resign itself to waiting and praying
Praying for the strength and opportunity to sustain a new harvest of tiny, unknowing seeds

SS poetry inspired by the golden wheat fields of the Walla Walla Valley

Prayer for choice and change

Cover via Amazon

A prayer from the John Baillie book - "A Diary of Private Prayer"- with apologies to Mr. Baillie, I've added a few of my own words to his excellent prayer for the third day of each month......

Lord of my life, for this new day I give Thee humble thanks for the myriad opportunities for choice and change, for gladness and brightness: for its long hours waiting to be filled with joyous and helpful labor: for its open doors of possibility for new choices and changes: i.e. for its hope of new beginnings.  Quicken in my heart, I beseech Thee, the desire to avail myself richly of this day's opportunities that my choices and changes now allow.  Let me not break faith with any of yesterday's promises, nor leave unrepaired any of yesterday's wrongs.  Let me never forsake the chance or choice to see a fellow traveler in distress and pass by on the other side.  Let me leave no height of duty behind me unattempted, nor any evil habit unassaulted.  Where chance or choice enhances a deed of mine that can help to make this world a better place for all to live in, where word of mine can cheer a despondent heart or brace a weak will, where prayer of mine can serve the extension of Christ's Kingdom, there let me always make the choice to do and speak and pray.  In your holy name, Amen

A Great Cloud of Witnesses

Yesterday, lectio divina drew me to an unexpected verse.  It came from my John Baillie book of prayers; a daily book that has been in my a.m. worship since late 2007.  This was the phrase  (not new but unexpectedly fresh) from Baillie's prayer -

".....an ever-present remembrance of the great traditions wherein I stand and the great cloud of witnesses which at all times surround me."

It was the last full day of our rest and restoration in Maui and as I felt the fresh ocean breeze through our open lanai doors, heard the surf and the birds greeting the sun of the day, my thoughts flew to the rich culture and native ancestry of the Hawaiian Islands.  Surely the DNA of Maui's ancestors is still present from the times they sat on this mountain side - then a deserted place of beauty with worshipers akin to me savoring their gods' creation. 

The landscape, of course, has changed.  The hilltop is no longer forested with solely indigenous plants, nor visited by tiny red and yellow birds - the birds of color almost extinct now, the hilltop dotted with a multitude of condos inhabited by modern "worshipers" perhaps involved more in idol-like worship than in praise and thanksgiving for this beautiful island.  I honored the ancient spirits in prayer for their courage and perseverance in finding and settling this place, and for both theirs and my worship of the awesomely beautiful creation washing over our souls; I also gave thanks for their presence in my personal prayer time.

Do you have physical sites in your life that bring awareness of the great cloud of witnesses to the forefront of your heart and mind?  Maybe even as you close your eyes and pray for their support you feel them now?  I'd love to hear about your special places..........

Photos Sunrise Sister - #1. Overlook at Honolua Bay #2.  Maui Blue Sky:)

Shameless Theft

Image via Wikipedia

This morning perusing my favorite bloggers, I came upon this beautiful quote at an equally beautiful site - Contemplative Photography. With shameless abandon but with a note that Contemplative Photography daily has thoughts and photos worth reading, I give you the same words here from Richard Rohr's Naked Now :

"Prayer is actually setting out a tuning fork. All you can really do in the spiritual life is get tuned to receive the always present message. Once you are tuned, you will receive, and it has nothing to do with worthiness or the group you belong to, but only inner resonance and a capacity for mutuality. The Sender is absolutely and always present and broadcasting; the only change is with the receiver station...

Most simply put, prayer is something that happens to you, much more than anything you privately do...God stops being an object of attention... and becomes at some level your own "I am."

...You are already a child of God, equipped with everything you need to begin resonating with the divine. That does not mean you are morally or psychologically perfect. Not at all. But you will now have the freedom to see such failings in yourself, to grow and to love better because of them."

How appropriate that the "tuning fork" would be brought to my mind, such a wonderful tool analogy for prayer and for the soul. There has been a lot of "soul talk" the last couple of days over at Country Parson and at Diamonds in the Sky with Lucy. Not only are the posts worth reading but the comments also - happy tuning in today from the MindSieve!

Image of a beautiful tuning fork from wikipedia

Knocking....

"I bless Thee for that knocking at my heart's door that warns me of Thy waiting presence."

Quote from A Diary of Private Prayer - John Baillie

A prayer for Sunday a.m.

Image via Wikipedia

John Baillie and his little book entitled - A Diary of Private Prayer, and I, bring you this prayer for your Sunday a.m.

Eternal Father of my soul, let my first thought today be of Thee, let my first impulse be to worship Thee, let my first speech be Thy name, let my first action be to kneel before Thee in prayer.

Yet let me not, when this morning prayer is said, think my worship ended and spend the day in forgetfulness of Thee. Rather from these moments of quietness let light go forth, and joy, and power, that will remain with me through all the hours of the day;
Keeping me chaste in thought.
Keeping me temperate and truthful in speech.
Keeping me faithful and diligent in my work.
Keeping me humble in my estimation of myself.
Keeping me honorable and generous in my dealings with others.
Keeping me loyal to every hallowed memory of the past.
Keeping me mindful of my eternal destiny as a child of Thine.

O God, who hast been the Refuge of my fathers (and mothers) through many generations, be my Refuge today in every time and circumstance of need. Be my Guide through all that is dark and doubtful. Be my Guard against all that threatens my spirit's welfare. Be my Strength in time of testing. Gladden my heart with Thy peace; through Jesus Christ my Lord.
Amen

Photo - Wikipedia - Islamic Jesus (Isa) Miniature of Sermon on the Mount