NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 2/24

It was 16 years ago that I first posted this poem by William Stafford and over the years I've offered it for our Lenten prayer a number of times.  

The Way It Is

 

There's a thread you follow. It goes among

things that change. But it doesn't change.

People wonder about what you are pursuing.

You have to explain about the thread.

But it is hard for others to see.

While you hold it you can't get lost.

Tragedies happen; people get hurt

or die; and you suffer and get old.

Nothing you do can stop time's unfolding.

You don't ever let go of the thread.

    Fiber art by Astrid Monique

Most of us lead lives of many threads. Some are stronger than others, some are of our own making, some are woven into the fabric of our being with or without our permission...   And it's with or without our permission that the Spirit weaves the thread of God's grace and design into the cloth of our being, our lives...  God's thread in our lives does not change: it's pliable yet strong, it hems and mends, it tucks and tailors, it stitches and sutures...

Be the thread, Lord, 

that runs through my whole life:

the thread of grace 

that sews my soul to yours...

Thread your grace through my relationships,

through all my joys and sorrows, 

through the good times and the bad times, 

through all my nights and days...

 

Be the the thread, Lord,

that holds tight, secure and strong

in the face of all that threatens 

to unravel all that holds me 

close to you...

Be the thread I can't explain

- don't really understand -

yet the thread for which I'm 

grateful

for all the ways it stitches up 

the wounds that rend my heart...

 

Be the thread I always cling to,

the thread I won't let go of:

the thread of faith, my thread of hope,

your thread of love 

that knits my heart to yours...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen.

 

Here's a song about threads and I hope it will have meaning for all of us, and especially for those, these days, who may be "hanging on by a thread..."  

Threads by David Leonard

 

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I'm tired of trying to keep it all together 

Tired of lies disguising who I really am 

 

There's pain that’s hiding underneath the surface 

I’m tired of trying to keep it on the inside 

 

But here before your love I’m not afraid 

 

I’m gonna let you pull the threads 

   ‘til my heart unravels

Open me up with every breath 

   ‘til the darkness scatters and runs away 

I’m ready to fall apart 

Fall into your loving arms 

I’m gonna let you pull the threads 

   ‘til my heart unravels into Yours 

 

You’re reaching out your hand 

To pull me close again 

You see me as I am still you want me 

 

Here before your love I'm not afraid

You stitch me back together with your grace 

Here before your love I'm not afraid

You stitch me back together with your grace 

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Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 2/24

This morning's prayer is my expansion of an ancient Celtic prayer. 

God to hold me,
God to enfold me,
God to surround me,

God to embrace me...

 
God in my thoughts,
God in my speech,

God in my judgment, 
God in my choices,

God in my wonder,

God in my dreams...

 

God in my being,

God in my doing,
God in my coming,

God in my going,

God in my work,

God in my rest, 
God in my watching,

God in my waiting, 

God in my giving,  

God in my taking, 

God in my waking, 

God in my sleeping...

 

God in my troubles,

God in my calm,

God in my hurt,

God in my healing, 

God in my laughter,

God in my tears,

God in my sorrows,

God in my joys...

 

God in my faith,

God in my hope,

God in my love, 
God in my life,
God in my mind,

God in my soul, 
God in my heart of hearts...

Dwell in me, Lord, this day, I pray: 

    in all I do, 

    every breath I take, 

    every step I take...

Remain in me, Lord, this day, I pray

    may nothing I do
    ever lead me astray 
    or draw me away from your love...

Live in me, Lord, this day, I pray
    make your home in my heart
    and deep in my soul,

    with the peace only you can give...

 

Amen. 

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How an 8 year old made my day!

I was at Donelan's Market on Sunday afternoon, picking up some supplies before snow storm bearing down on the east coast.

While pushing my cart down the aisle a woman greeted me by name and said she wanted to tell me a story about the Ash Wednesday service I had led last week.  She told me she had seen my Ash Wednesday "bag of tricks" before and had decided to bring her grandchildren along with her this year.  Well, the kids loved it, she told me, and when they got in the car for the ride home her 8 year old grandson exclaimed, "Grandma, I LOVE Lent!"

Made my day! Mission accomplished!  

As we went our separate ways down the aisle, I remembered that I had a supply of Lenten pocket Crosses out in my car - so I ran out and brought a bunch back into the store for Grandma to give to her brood.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 2/23

Over the years, I've post several variations of this prayer and tonight it strikes me as particularly appropriate for Lent...

Just to pause in your presence

   and welcome the silence:

      this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To sit in the dark

   and wonder, “Where are you?”

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To rest in the quiet

   and trust you are near:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To breathe in the stillness,
   and ponder your mystery:
     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To listen and hear

   even one word from you:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To hand you my brokenness,

   hoping for healing:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To live my life

   just a day at a time:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To wait for you now

   as I waited all day:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To sit with my doubts,

   and lean on my faith:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To open my heart

    and pour out my story:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To know the world's chaos

    while calm by your side:

        this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

     

To face all the lies

   and admit to the truth:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To take a deep breath

   and hope for your peace:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To ponder my past

   and pray for your pardon:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To search in my heart  

   for the pulse of your love:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To close my eyes tight

    just to hold back the tears:
     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To remember my family

   and ask you to bless them:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To gaze at the Cross

   and remember, "I'm loved!"

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To hear in the darkness

   a whisper of grace:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

To open my soul
    and then wait to be filled:
     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

To thank you for friends

   who help me each day:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To humbly mumble

   my jumble of thoughts:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To find the strength

   to do the right thing: 

      this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To recall and give thanks

   for the good times I’ve known:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To find in your Word

   your wisdom and truth:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To live with my loneliness,

   calmed by your presence:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To hope and believe

     that all shall be well:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

 To seek and find joy

   in the depths of my sorrow:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To confess all my sins

   and trust in your mercy:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To cry from the depths,

   of my loss and my grief:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To call to my mind

   how your mercy has saved me:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To dream of my future

   and where you will lead me:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To hear only silence

   and speak not a word:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To trust that my silence

   is your language, too:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To accept the things that I cannot change

   and to change all the things I can:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To remember past blessings

   and ask you for more:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To believe beyond doubt

   that I’m held in your hands: 

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

 To surrender to you

   all my worries and fears: 

      this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To lay bare my life

   to the mystery you are:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To open my lips

   and give praise to your name:

      tthis is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

To hope for good sleep

   sound and restful and deep:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

From all that I have

   and all that I am:

     this is my prayer tonight, O Lord...

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen. 

Oh Father, Hear My Prayer Tonight

    by  Connor Ward and the Steel Strings

 

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Deep in the forest where the wild winds sing.

I stand alone beneath heaven's wing.

The trees reach high. The branches sway.

As I talk to God on the sacred day,

 

I'm happy, Lord, my voice takes flight.

For all you've given me feels so right.

In this world of chaos, pain and strife,

you lead me gently through the valleys of life.

 

This world spins fast, so cruel, so cold.

But your hand holds mine when I grow old,

I count on you to guard my soul,

to keep me safe, to make me whole.

 

Though answers don't always come by day.

In dreams at night, you softly say

I'm with you, still the words may hide.

 Trust me always, I'm your guide.

 

Oh, Father, hear my prayer tonight.

Your love is my guiding light.

Through shadows deep and battles fought,

I'll trust in you, you leave me not.

You're my savior, my hope, my way.

Keep me safe through each new day.

 

The rustling leaves seem to hum your name.

A quiet echo, a holy flame.

Here in the stillness, I find my peace.

My worries fade as faith increases.

With every step down paths unknown,

I lean on you for you've shown

that even storms will pass away

and brighter skies will greet the day.

 

Oh, Father, hear my prayer tonight.

Your love is my guiding light.

Through shadows deep and battles fought,

I'll trust in you, you leave me not.

You're my savior, my hope, my way.

Keep me safe through each new day.

 

So here I stand, surrounded by trees,

thankful for whispers carried on breezes.

For though you speak without a sound,

your truth resounds all around.

And as I leave, I know I'll find

your voice eternal in heart and mind…

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