| 26. Listening and the
gentle life
Lord,
let me find back the lost treasure of time. Time for gentle listening to a
friend, for sharing the play of a child, for consoling a suffering fellow
human being, for thinking without strain, for labor without pressure.
Time
to delight in birds and flowers, blooming trees and lustrous green. Time
to enjoy music, friends, and meals, time to be silent and alone, time to
be quietly at home, time to be present to Your mystery. Free me from the
tyranny of time urgency. Let time not possess me neither the pressure of
daily concerns. Let me not cram every moment with useful or exciting
things to do or say. Let my life be a gentle preparation for the pure and
precious moments of listening to You so that I may not drown in the
rushing waters of practical pursuits.
27. An Indian prayer
O’
Great Spirit,
Whose
voice I hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me! I am small and weak, I need your strength and wisdom.
Let
me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make
my hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your
voice.
Make
me wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.
Let
me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.
I
seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest
enemy, myself.
Make
me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes.
So
when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without
same. |
28. A prayer to turn around.
O
God of compassion, You call us during this period of repentance and
atonement to turn around, to turn around personally from the selfishness
and fear that keep us from responding courageously to those in need,
people with whom You identify in a special way.
O
God of justice, You also call us to turn around our collective selves, our
nation, and work to bring the policies of this nation closer to Your
vision of Shalom of peace, justice, equity, unity.
Our
citizenship is a gift as faithful stewards on behalf of human life. May
the wearing of this symbol of repentance and compassion be a daily prayer
to You to inspire us to action and to make up for our weaknesses.
O
God of all peoples, be with us, the victims, the decision makers, all of
us.
29. If we want to, you will
Lord,
Our God, give to our hearts the desire of You. If we desire you, we will
seek you. If we seek you, we will find you. If we find you, we will love
you. And this love will redeem all our faults and prevent us from
refalling, once redeemed.
30. Be with us God
Heavenly
Father, we are gathering now on behalf of your kingdom. Please be here
with us. Be here to direct our study and our action with the guiding hand
of your Spirit. Above all, help us to seek the truth with love. Help our
love to overflow into the lives of others far an near and help us to
cherish their love in return. Grant that our lives may become an answer to
the prayers of your Son. Who came to spread fire upon earth and prayer
that it might be enkindled. Never permit us to distort the truth. Do not
let us be complacent with ignorance. Do not let fear dissuade us from the
paths Your truth tells us to follow. Grant that our common pursuit of Your
truth and living of your love, may draw us into union with each other and
with You. |