Lectio Divina
I will try from now on, with your grace, to make no more fuss about ‘being a contemplative’ about acquiring that perfection for myself. Instead I will seek only you, not contemplation, and not perfection, but you alone. Then maybe I will be able to do the simple things that you would have me do, and do them well, with pure intention in peace, silence, and obscurity, concealed even from my own self, and safe from my poisonous self-esteem.
Thomas Merton
I have stilled and quieted my soul
like a weaned child with its mother
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Psalm 131
Prayer
Lord
When I first heard
Come follow me
I thought it meant
Show me what you can do
So the determined child
climbed on stage
Watch me, Jesus
Watch me, world
Look how faithful
Look how radical
Look how intelligent
Look how clever
Only now
am I learning
the invitation
was not to ascend
but to come down
from stages
crafted by men.
Come.
Be still.
Be seen
without performing.
There is no stage here.
Nothing to prove.
Only belovedness
to receive
and receive
until it spills over
into a world
of weary performers.
Blessing
Dear Friend
May you hear the good news.
Jesus loves you.
May your shoulders lower.
May you let out a breath.
In the Name of the One
Who Forgives and Renews
Amen