Waiting for the promise of renewal might feel like…
hope, patience, curiosity, open-mindedness, without limits on possibility.
It might feel like striving or angst or despair.
Often it can feel very, very messy, dusty, and dirty.
Yet, the promise is not a feeling.
The promise is a gift planted inside of us – the Spirit freely given to us.
Always the Spirit is hovering, stirring, a burning flame inside bringing forth new life in us and all of creation.
May our prayer, our simple lives, be a sweet offering to the Giver of the Gift within us.
Psalm 104:24-34 (NRSV)
O LORD, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
Yonder is the sea, great and wide,
creeping things innumerable are there,
living things both small and great.
There go the ships,
and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
These all look to you
to give them their food in due season;
when you give to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created;
and you renew the face of the ground.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works—
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
who touches the mountains and they smoke.
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the LORD.
Psalm 104:24-34 (Psalms for Praying by Nan C. Merrill)
O You, who know all hearts,
how manifold are your works.
In wisdom You have created them all;
the earth is filled with your creatures.
We look to the seas, great and wide,
which teem with life innumerable,
helping to maintain the balance.
O, that we might receive your gifts,
taking only what is needed
with grateful hearts.
All of creation looks to You,
to give them food in due season.
When we are in harmony with You,
the earth provides;
yes, a bountiful harvest to be shared with all.
When we misuse what You have created for us,
we blame You for the famine and destruction that ensues,
and feel alienated from You.
Even so, You continue to send forth your Spirit, and
the earth, though not without turmoil is renewed.
The glory of the Radiant One endures
forever, for
the works of Love are sure.
You are ever-present to us,
even as the earth trembles,
even as the mountains spew forth
ashes and smoke!
I will abandon myself into your hands
as long as I live;
I will sing praises to You
while I have breath.
May my meditations be pleasing to You,
for I rejoice and am glad in You.
May all who feel separated from You
open their hearts to new Life.
For Reflection and Prayer:
Was there a word, phrase or image which caught your attention you as you listened to or slowly read the text? Quietly savor this with Jesus.
Notice any felt sense that seems to emerge as you linger with this passage. It might come as a bodily feeling, emotion, metaphor, picture, gesture or sound. See if you can describe it and simply be with it with patient curiosity. Be open to whatever more might emerge.
Perhaps you might want to draw, color or journal your conversation.
As the time of prayer comes to a close, share some quiet moments with Jesus, simply resting safely in his presence.