Events in my life of late have been leading me to contemplate prayer quite a bit.
I thought I would share some inspiration on this subject, starting with two poems: “Praying” by Mary Oliver, from her book, THIRST, and “What Kind of God” by Kabir.
I would love to hear your reflections about these poems or other favorite poems or writings on prayer—and most valuable of all: your own experiences of prayer. Please comment below this post!
Praying
by Mary Oliver
It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention, then patch
a few words together and don’t try to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest but the doorway
into thanks, and a silence in which another voice may speak.
What Kind of God?
What kind of God would She be
if She did not hear the
bangles ring on
the ants’
wrists
as they move the earth in their sweet dance?
And what kind of God would She be if a leaf’s prayer was not as precious to creation as the prayer Her own son sang from the glorious depth of Her soul – for us.
And what kind of God would He be if the vote of millions in this world could sway Him to change the divine law of love
that speaks so clearly with compassion’s elegant tongue, saying, eternally saying:
all are forgiven -moreover, dears, no one has ever been guilty.
What kind of God would She be if She did not count the blinks of your eyes in absolute awe of their movements?
What a God – what a God we have.
I would love to hear your reflections and any poem prayers you treasure.
G'Mar Chatima Tova
I close with this customary greeting whose literal meaning is: "a good final sealing." I will add to that: May you know the love of which you are made. What better than to know this?
With gratitude,
Ani
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Union of Opposites
by Lorraine Grzyb
Hearing in the silence
Seeing in the dark,
Love
Knows
No distance,
No separation.
Timeless,
Boundless,
Love
Finds itself
In all conditions.
Spring Flowers by Lorraine
Winter does not last forever
And we are proof of that.
We never despaired, we never gave up,
We always had faith in the majesty of life.
The truth does not die because it’s under ground,
But when the time is ripe,
It emerges unchanged,immortal, free and majestic.
There are so many prayers that come to mind and I also decided to look in this book, “The Little Book of Prayers” to see what I could find. The book is a little gem.
The book is edited by David Schiller and is filled with prayers from many different faiths. It includes prayers by authors, prayers of a confederate soldier, a Sioux Indian to name a few.
Here is one prayer I just discovered-
O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me so to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised,
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
When I feel anxious- I try to remember..
“Be still and know that I am God”.
Psalm 46:10
Dear Ani,
More power to you–of the natural world, of the supernatural world, of prayer, of literacy, of friendships, of family, of community…
The last two lines of Mary Oliver’s little poem make me conscious of an important dimension of poetry, music, conversation, actions–every expression of human spirit, in fact. Spaces are required, together with letters, lines and stanzas; rests are required between nfotes; pauses for response are needed in conversations and in activities. Writer/reader, musician/auditor, speaker/hearer, craftsperson/medium partnerships are necessary dyads; but we often downplay or forget one essential half of this expression/reception reality.
Kabir’s rhetorical question has been a serious, searching one throughout the centuries of human life. For me, the search is more important than the answer. In fact, I don’t believe that I can checkmate the King/Queen/Creator of the Universe–only chase Her/Him/It.
Are you familiar with the much lesser but contemporary American Sufi, Kabir Helminski?
This is my first visit to your website, but not my last. Best wishes with writing, pausing, speaking, listening, finding and creating peace amid the storms of violence and cruelty in the world. Peace and joy!
Bob C.
These poems are so beautiful. I thank you for sharing them with us.
Please, Morningstar, add any—including any of your own—to these prayer poems!
Offering of the Broken Heart
by Aurelia Louise Jones
Beloved Presence of God I AM, with surrender and humility I come to the Altar of Mercy
to offer my broken heart. This day, I offer my sorrows, my tears, my fears, my worries
my grief, my loneliness, to the altar of Love, knowing that it is only through the drenching
of the Heart into the fires of pure Divine Love that all human attributes of the broken heart
can be miraculously healed and transformed.
As I off er my broken heart in total surrender and acceptance, I know that my heart will
be softened. I also know that my pains and sorrows are a learning tool, the cleansing
catalysts that will help me perfect the Divine gift of Love that will open up the Realms
of Light upon my soul.
As I allow myself to feel the pain with surrender, I also allow myself to release it, to be
transformed into the most wondrous gift, Beauty in all its Celestial perfection, health in
all its full magnificence, wisdom in its unlimited glory are the gifts bestowed upon those
who possess this Great Love.
The Love of God, the Love beyond all gifts, I now pray with all the energy of my heart
that I might be possessed by this Christ-like Love. I let this Great Love sing as a melody
of Praise, Gratitude and Thanksgiving from my heart each moment that I live.
And so it is, Beloved I Am!
Thank you so much, Lorraine, for posting this. The title itself is so moving to me: “Offering of the Broken Heart.” A meditation teacher of mine once told someone who said their heart was broken that “a broken heart is a heart broken open to more love.” Thank you again!