i have dealt with emotions and gone places i never anticipated going, all in my mind. it hasn't been a party, and i have not at all enjoyed it.
one thing i have learned—or more accurately, relearned— is the importance of what you allow the voices to tell you, and how much validity you place on those voices. that not every thought that finds its way into your head is truth and worthy of thinking about.
with all this in mind, i came across this prayer this morning. i have quoted from Prayers for a Privileged People by Walter Brueggemann before, and i am fairly sure this won't be the last time...
Hearing Better Voices
on reading the prophets
We make a pause
amid many voices—
some innocent and some seductive,
some violent and some coercive,
some forgiven and genuine,
some not.
Amid this cacophony that pulls us
in many directions,
we have these old voices of your prophets;
these voices to attest to
your fierce self,
your severe summons,
your generous promise,
your abiding presence.
Give us good ears,
perchance you have a word for us tonight;
Give us grace and courage to listen,
to answer,
to care,
and to rejoice,
that we may be more fully your people.
this is my prayer today.
2 comments:
Just wanted you to know I've been lurking around ... ur blog has been in my RSS reader for a while now... and I don't think I've ever commented. But I loved this poem/prayer... and I had to say thanks.
I have struggled at various points in my life to understand that emotions can lie to you. I'm not saying this to you, I'm "amen-ing" with you on your post. In the past few years I've found that praying the prayers of others has helped me immensely. Bruegemann's prayer book is beautiful and seems to quickly cut through all the crap. I have a hard time making it past section 1 as those prayers mean so much to me. However, "Pondering the Small Ways" is also one of my favorites.
I too read your blog a lot and don't often comment. I appreciate your words.
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