NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 10/17

 

It always helps me to remember, Lord, that:

    no matter how scattered my thoughts,

    whatever the feelings that flood my heart,

    in spite of how garbled the words I speak,

    even when I can't find word to say,

    regardless of whether I pray or not 

 

even then, Lord...

    you read my confusion with wisdom and ease,
    you know what I mean when I don't know myself,

    you're at peace with the feelings I fear and avoid,

    you understand clearly my mumbling and babbling,

    you know my heart's plea before I can name it,

    you hear my prayer when it has no words...

 

It always helps me to remember this, Lord,

    - so please help me not forget it!

 

Protect me, Lord, while I toss and turn

    and watch over me when I fall asleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen. 

Tonight's song for prayer is a simple chant from the

Taize community in France.  You might sing along 

or just let it be the music serve as background for your

remembering how God knows your every prayer, even

before you speak it, no matter how clumsily you phrase 

it - and even if you don't say it!

O, Lord Hear My Prayer (Taize) 

    by Margaret Rizza and Saint Thomas Music Group

 

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O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer;

    when I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer;
    come and listen to me.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 10/16

Tonight's prayer comes to us from the writings of Madeleine Delbrel (here and here). It's followed by two musical options - and I hope you'll all give each of them a chance...

To be a good dancer,

   with you as with anyone else, 

      it's not necessary that we know where it will lead.

We only need to follow,
    to be cheerful,
    to be light,
       and above all not to be stiff.

 

We don't have to ask you for explanations
    about the steps that you choose to take.
We need to be like an extension of yourself, 

   quick and alive, 

      and pick up the rhythm of the music through you.
We must not desire to push ahead at all costs,
    but allow ourselves to be spun, 

      to be moved to the side.
We have to know how to pause and slide, and not walk.

 

And the steps would be rather clumsy
    if they were not in harmony with the music.
But we tend to forget the music of your spirit,
    and we turn our life into a gymnastic exercise;
we forget that, in your arms, 

   life is something to be danced,
that your Holy Will 

   is inconceivably creative,
and all monotony and boredom
    is left to the old souls who play the wallflower 

       in the joyful ball of your love.

Lord, come ask us to dance.

 
We're ready to dance this errand for you, 

   these accounts to do, this dinner to prepare, 

      this vigil to keep when we would prefer to sleep. 

We're ready to dance for you the dance of work,
   the dance of heat, and later the dance of cold.

If certain melodies 

   are often played in the minor key, 

      we won't tell you that they're sad; 

if others leave us a little breathless, 

   we won't tell you that they knock the wind out of us.
And if other people bump into us, 

   we'll take it with a good laugh,
knowing well that that's the sort of thing that happens 

   when you're dancing.

Lord, teach us precisely where, 

   in this endless novel
      which has begun to unfold between you and us,
         the peculiar ball of our obedience takes place.

Strike up the great orchestra of your designs
    wherein everything you allow
       sends its strange music
          into the peace of your will.
Teach us every day to dress our human condition

   in the dancing gown you love to have us wear

adorned with all its details,

   like so many priceless jewels.

Make us live our life

   not like a game of chess, where every move is calculated,

   not like a contest, where everything is difficult,
   not like a math problem, which makes our head hurt,
but like an endless celebration, 

   where our meeting with you is constantly new.

Like a ball,
    like a dance,
       in the arms of your grace,
          in the universal music of love,

Lord, ask us to dance.

 

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.

 

Two musical options this evening...

1) Tonight's first song is based on the Song of Songs found in the Hebrew scriptures.  The poetic imagery there speaks of love: between a man and woman; between the Lord and his chosen people, Israel; and between God and humankind. 

 

2) Another option is Just by composer David Lang. This simple mantra is also sourced from the Song of Songs.  Although the lyrics repeat over and over again that the Lover seeks "just" this and that from the beloved, indeed, the Lover desires the whole of the beloved - just as God desires all that we have...  This piece is long, simple, repetitive and - prayerful for those who give themselves to it...

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Dance With Me, Lord by Paul Wilbur

   performed by Lindell Cooley 

 

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Dance with me, Oh, Lover of my soul
To the song of all songs

Romance me, Oh, Lover of my soul
To the song of all songs

 

Behold You have come 

   over the hills, up on the mountain
To me, You have run
   my Beloved, You've captured my heart

 

Dance with me, Oh, Lover of my soul
To the song of all songs

Romance me, Oh, Lover of my soul
To the song of all songs

With You I will go, You are my Love, 

   You are my Fair One
The winter has passed 

   and the springtime has come

 

Dance with me, Oh, Lover of my soul
To the song of all songs

Romance me, Oh, Lover of my soul
To the song of all songs

Romance me, Oh, Lover of my soul
   To the song of all songs

Romance me, Oh, Lover of my soul
   To the song of all songs

Dance with me, Oh, Lover of my soul
To the song of all songs

 Just by David Lang

  from the film, Youth by Paolo Sorrentino

    

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Just your mouth
Just your love
Just your anointing oils
Just your name
Just your chambers
Just your love

 

And my mother's sons
And my own vineyard
And my soul
Just your flock
Just your companions
Just your kids

 

Just your cheeks
Just your neck
Just your couch
And my perfume
And my beloved
And my breasts

 

And my beloved
And my love
Just your eyes
And my beloved

Our couch
Our house
Our rafters
And my love
And my beloved

 

Just your shadow
Just your fruit
Just your banner over me
Just your left hand
Just your right hand
And my beloved
And my beloved

 

Our wall
And my beloved
And my love
And my fair one
And my love
And my fair one
And my dove

 

Just your face
Just your voice
Just your voice
Just your face
Our vineyards
And my beloved

 

Just your flock
And my beloved
And my bed
And my soul
And my soul
And my soul
And my soul
And my mother's house

 

Just your sword
Just your mother
Just your wedding
Just your heart
And my love

 

Just your eyes
Just your veil
Just your hair
Just your teeth
Just your lips
Just your mouth

 

Just your cheeks
Just your veil
Just your neck
Just your two breasts
And my love
And my bride
And my heart
And my sister
And my bride
And my heart

 

Just your eyes
Just your necklace
Just your love
And my sister
And my bride

 

Just your love
Just your oils
Just your lips
And my bride

 

Just your tongue
Just your garments
And my sister
And my bride

 

Just your shoots
And my garden
And my beloved
And my garden
And my sister
And my bride

 

And my myrrh
And my spice
And my honeycomb
And my honey
And my wine
And my milk

 

And my heart
And my beloved
And my sister
And my love
And my dove
And my perfect one

 

And my head
And my locks
And my garment
And my feet
And my beloved
And my hand

 

And my heart
And my beloved
And my hands
And my fingers
And my beloved
And my beloved
And my soul
And my beloved

 

Just your beloved
Just your beloved
And my beloved

 

Just your head
Just your locks
Just your eyes
Just your cheeks
Just your lips
Just your arms

 

Just your body
Just you legs
Just your appearance
Just your speech
And my beloved
And my friend

 

Just your beloved
And my beloved
Just your garden
Just your flock
And my beloved
And my beloved

 

Just your flock
And my love

 

Just your eyes
Just your hair
Just your teeth
Just your cheeks
And my dove
And my perfect one
And my mother
And my fancy
And my prince

 

Just your feet
Just your rounded thighs
Just your navel
Just your belly
Just your two breasts
Just your neck
Just your eyes
Just your nose

 

Just your head
Just your flowing locks
Just your breasts
Just your breasts
Just your breath
Just your kisses
And my beloved

 

Just your desire
And my beloved
And my love
Our doors
And my beloved
And my mother's breast
And my mother
And my pomegranates

 

Just your left hand
Just your right hand
And my beloved
Just your mother
Just your heart
Just your arm

 

Our sister
And my breasts
Just your eyes
And my vineyard
And my very own
And my self

 

Just your voice
And my beloved

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A special prayer for today...

   Image source

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Today is the feast of Saint Theresa of Avila. 

A well known quote from her spiritual writings begins, 

"Let nothing trouble you..." 

Just today I came across a soft jazz setting of her words (trust me - it works!) and I found the arrangement both comforting and prayerful - and hope you will, too!

 

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UPDATE!

My friend, Frank Fairbairn, often used the phrase, "an embarrassment of riches..." and that's just what I'm experiencing in your loving, prayerful response to my being in the hospital for a few days. 

 

UPDATE: All's going well! I'm fairly certain I'll be going home tomorrow (Wednesday). I've not experienced any pain in all of this so I don't need a long time to recuperate. I really do appreciate all your prayers, emails, texts, voicemails, messages, thoughts and questions - but your generous outreach far exceeds my ability to respond. 

 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Love you all!

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NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 10/15

I wrote this prayer a few years back,
spent some time reworking it this afternoon,
and offer it for your prayer this evening...

I watch a leaf, falling from its branch,   

    then skittering, here and there,

dancing down the street,

    at the wind's own beck and call...

I walk and follow that one leaf:

    it dawdles and it pokes along, 

then with a lift it leaps - a jeté - 

    on a breath from deep within my soul...

I am that leaf, Lord, sometimes stalled

    and stilled upon a grassy path

and sometimes skipping all about,
    exuding secret, hidden joy...

     
I am that leaf, Lord, whom your Spirit

    (wind beneath my wings)

lifts high in flight 'til I descend,

    gently resting on the ground...

       

I am that leaf, Lord, powerless,

    until your breath gives wing

to raise me up, escaping bonds

    that holds me back and down...

     

I am that leaf, Lord, crying out:

  "Lift me on the breeze!"

Draw me up from sorrow's depths

    to joy I've yet to know...

I am that leaf and you're the wind

    I need to breathe and live:

to dance, to play, to make my way

    with grace along my path...

 

In the quiet of this moment,

   in the power of your Spirit,

lift my soul to be with you, Lord,

    in prayer this holy night...

In my prayer, Lord, help me see:

   you've been my breath, my help and hope

every time I've been that lonely leaf,

    falling from a tree...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake,

    watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

     
Amen. 

 

For tonight's music, listen here 

and in your prayerful imagination, 

think of yourself as a falling leaf 

in your relationship with God.

If it helps, offer tonight's prayer again

as you listen to the music...

 

Falling Leaves by Martin Tallstrom

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Monday 10/14

 

As you know, I'm in the hospital for a few days.  A FaceBook friend happened to post these words from Philippians 4:4-7 and they have been part of my prayer while my the medical folks poke me to study my blood. In my heart, these are among the most beautiful, consoling and challenging words in the whole of the scriptures!

I want to rejoice, Lord - always!

I’d so much rather rejoice than weep,

    to be glad in you 

        than sad in my trials and troubles…

Yes, I'd like to rejoice always but my soul's desire for joy

    doesn’t always match what my heart can muster

especially when my soul's chock full

        of anxiety, worry, misgivings and fear... 

But I see, when I read more carefully

    that I’m called to rejoice in you,  

        to find my joy in you,

    especially when I find it hard

        to find any joy within myself...

The joy you promise, Lord, 

    the joy you generously offer,
        lies deep in you, outside my trials;
it's the joy that comes when I let go 
   the troubles I hold and cling to,

the joy of taking a step beyond

    to the peace that rests, alone, in you...

Visit my heart with the joy that’s yours,

   the joy that only you can give,

        the joy that won't be quelled by fear,

the joy whose source runs deeper by far

    than my deepest wound or grief,

the joy that springs and flows from depths 

    my heart has yet to explore...

Find for me a joy, O Lord, 

    greater than any loss I've known,
deeper than all my worries and fears,
    a muscular joy to strengthen me 

        in my weakness, frail and flawed...

Grant me a joy that survives my moods

    and my roller coaster emotions,

my thin skin and stubborn ego

    my pride and my self-pity...

In the quiet of my prayer tonight, Lord,

   help me see the ways I ward off joy

and prefer instead the company

    of the misery I often befriend...

 

Turn my heart around and up-side-down

    'til it opens to every day's simple joy,
the joy you shower from heaven

    and pour down like rain from your hand...

When my heart is cloudy and dry, Lord,
   plant seeds of sweet joy in my soul
to blossom in times when all my joy
    depends upon you alone...

 

When I lose my hope of finding joy 

   let your Spirit fan its embers to flame

warming my heart to trust anew 

   that while weeping may last 

        through the shadows of night,

     with the morning your joy will return...

I pray for a joy that lasts, Lord:
    a joy that suffers, endures and remains,

 a joy that freely survives,

    strong, deep, whole and intact,

       whatever may come my way...

In this quiet time of night prayer, Lord,

   refresh my desire, my thirst for joy;

help me find my joy in being still,

   the joy of knowing you’re my God

        and will be ever more...

 

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.

 

Do Not Be Anxious by Teresa Thomas

 

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Do not be anxious about anything

but in every situation by your prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God

which transcends all understanding

shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ

and the peace of God 

which transcends all understanding

shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ 

Do not be anxious about anything

but in every situation by your prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

 

 

 

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UPDATE!

Regular readers of my FB page and my blog know that I was recently in the hospital dealing with some concerns about my blood. The treatment seemed to be very successful but a few days ago, the problem recurred. 

 

So, I'm back in for a few days! My doctor is trying a different approach which he believes will be successful - and I do, too! Your prayers are much appreciated! 

 

Since I don't need balloons, candy or flowers, please harness such generous impulses and offer someone else a surprise token of your love - they'll be thrilled! And as I may have mentioned before, your prayerful support here online is just the kind of "visit" that most lifts my spirits and carries me forward! 

 

(I'll be posting as the Spirit moves me and as all the poking into my veins allows!) 

 

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