NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 5/30

And those who were seen dancing
    were thought to be mad
        by those who could not hear the music...* 

 

There are, indeed, Lord, 

folks in my life whom I deem mad

or ignorant, or foolish, or stupid,

or deranged or irrational

- or all of the above!

 

Could it be, Lord - is it possible -

that I simply don't hear their music?

 

That I miss its rhythm and beat?

 

That I'm deaf to the sound, 

the rhyme of the song

that shapes their movement,

measures their steps 

and sets the tempo 

for how and why 

they move and speak and act 

as they do?

 

Worse yet, Lord:

have I falsely judged

that they have no song?

 

That their souls are deprived 

of music, of art, 

of forms of beauty

seeking to tune

our hearts and lives

to the song you sing

in all who bear

your image 

and spirit divine?

 

Lord, 

open our hearts

(my neighbor's and mine)

to the many songs 

that sing in our hearts

and the lyrics that shape

how we live and love...

 

And open us all

to your music, Lord,

and teach and lead us

to dance with you...

Protect us, Lord while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

 

*Although often attributed to Friedrich Nietzsche, this quote is not found in any of his writings.

 

Lord of the Dance, sung by the choir and congregation of First-Plymouth Church, Lincoln, NE where Rev. Jim Keck (formerly West Concord Union Church in Concord, MA) is the pastor and where Tom Trenney is the music director.

 

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