NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 8/15

 

Many of my readers know that when I'm in Colorado, I participate in a prayer group with men incarcerated at the Clear Creek County Jail. My sister leads this group and also teaches a knitting class which most of the men in the prayer group attend. (You'd be surprised at how popular knitting and crocheting are in prisons!)  As part of each week's gathering, my sister includes a prayer from my blog. When I'm present, I read the prayer and when I'm back in Massachusetts, I record the prayer along with some introductory comments and she plays it as part of the service.

This week I wrote a prayer especially for the men in this group and I'd like to share it with you this evening. As you'll see, it's written for a group of men and there's no easy way to make it more gender inclusive.

So, I invite you to picture in your mind a cinder block room with one table surrounded by uncomfortable molded plastic chairs. On the table is a battery powered candle (Light of Christ!) and a bunch of wild flowers picked just outside the door to the jail. These men are only allowed outdoors every two weeks for an hour - but every week in the prayer group, those wild flowers are passed around because everyone wants just a sniff of God's great outdoors...

Prior to sharing my prayer, the group reflected on and discussed these scriptures:

The Lord God said,

“It is not good for the man to be alone. 

I will make a helper suitable for him.” 

Genesis 2:18

Be one with Christ, your head, 

from whom the whole body, 

supported and knit together 

by muscle and ligaments, 

grows as God causes it to grow. 

Colossians 2:19

So all the men of Israel were gathered, 

knit together as one man. 

Judges 20:11

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together 

in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because 

I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, 

I know that full well. 

Psalm 139:13-14

 Now, let's pray...

 

At the dawn of creation
you told us, Lord:
`“It’s not good for man to be alone…”

And so you gave us the gift of others: 

    mothers and fathers,
    soulmates and spouses, 

    helpers and partners,
    children and siblings,
    family and friends,
    companions and neighbors…

All of these wonderful people, Lord,
    help me hang in there
        and help me hang on to 

    what helps me get by, 
        what helps me get through, 
    what helps me survive 
        the times that are tough, 
    the days and the months and the years 
        when I learn what you meant 
            when you said long ago: 
                “It’s not good for man to be alone…”

So you knit me together with those I love: 
    patiently drawing me, 
        stitch by stitch and row by row, 
    from the yarn of your grace, 
        patterned on your divine design 
    to make of us all something beautiful, 
        something colorful, textured, soft and warm 
    and so much more 
        than we might have been 
    apart from your infinite wisdom 
        knitting us tightly together, 
            the work of your loving hands…

But sometimes, Lord, 
    I've tugged, I've stretched 
    I've pulled and unraveled 
        what you so carefully knit together…

I’ve loosened, I’ve lost, 
    the ties, the bonds 
        that kept me close to those I love; 
I’ve torn away from their tight-knit warmth 
    and I’ve learned once again the lesson: 
        “It’s not good for man to be alone…

So I find myself, Lord, lonely and worn, 
torn 
    from the fabric of family and friends; 
    from a soulmate’s embrace 
        and the laughter of children; 
    from so many things familiar and simple; 
    from life as it should be, life as I want it, 
    life as I pray it will be once again…

Knit me together again, Lord, 
    with those I love, and miss, and pray for, 
patiently drawing me 
    stitch by stitch and row by row 
        from the yarn of your grace, 
    patterned on your divine design 
        to make of me something beautiful…

Mend the places where I am frayed 
    and tie up the loose ends I’ve let slip; 
heal and restore the relationships 
    where my careless deeds have cut me off 
        from the ones whom I love most…

But for right now, Lord: 
    bind and knit me close to you 
        and to the brothers who share my lot; 
    make us one, strong in your Spirit, 
        partners and helpers, working together, 
    companions and neighbors making their way 
        towards life as it should be, 
            life as we want it, 
                life as we pray it will be once again…

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. 

 

Wonderfully Made by Ellie Holcomb

 

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It's two in the morning 

and I'm still awake in my bed 

And I can't shake these lies 

they keep running around in my head 

 

What if I saw me the way that you see me 

What if I believed it was true 

What if I traded this shame and self-hatred 

For a chance at believing you 

 

That you knit me together in my mother's womb 

And you say that I've never been hidden from you 

And you say that I'm wonderfully, wonderfully made 

 

You search me and know me 

You know when I sit, when I rise 

So you must know the choices 

I've made and the pain that I hide 

 

What if I saw me the way that you see me 

What if I believed it was true 

What if I traded this shame and self-hatred 

For a chance at believing you 

 

'Cause you knit me together in my mother's womb 

And you say that I've never been hidden from you 

And you say that I'm wonderfully, wonderfully made 

 

Your eyes, they have seen me before I was born 

And you know all the good things 

that you made me for 

And I'm wonderfully, wonderfully made 

Oooh, Oooh Oooh, Oooh 

 

When I consider the heavens above 

Oh what is man that you're mindful of us 

'Til you say that we're wonderfully, wonderfully made 

 

And you promise that you'll never leave me, 

Oh Lord Oh that you hem me in, 

both behind and before 

And I'm wonderfully, wonderfully made 

 

And you knit me together in my mother's womb 

And you say that I've never been hidden from you 

And you say that I'm wonderfully, wonderfully made 

 

And Your eyes, they have seen me before I was born 

And you know all the good things 

that you made me for 

And I'm wonderfully, wonderfully made 

 

Wonderfully made 

Help me believe it 

Help me to see me just like you see me 

Just like you made me 

Wonderfully made 

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