Late Entry

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Celtic Treasures: Daily Scriptures and Prayer, gift, J. Philip Newell, prayer, reflection, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I don’t know how it got to be evening prayer time, but I trust that a late word from Philip Newell will serve as a worthy replacement for our normal morning prayer. You see, my morning started early with an important appointment and was followed by similar events until now…and it’s been steadily raining now – a beautiful rain really, quite nourishing, I’m sure, to the trees and the lawn. I have been really amazed at the unfolding of the springtime in our neighborhood. The flowering trees are glorious and the green, deciduous trees look like they’re already dressed for summer! But I digress…

Here is a brief prayer for evening reflection, perfect now because the rain has stopped and all is quiet.

In the silence of our hearts or in spoken words let us give thanks for the gift of this day and pray for the life of the world…

O God of heaven, you are present on earth. O God of the stars and planets, you are in the midst of the city. O God above all things, you are in the depths our being. The river of your eternal life runs through all things. Let us be glad to be bearers of your eternity. Let us be glad to find you in one another.

(J. Philip Newell (Celtic Treasure, p.150.)

Prayer for the Gray Days

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Celtic Benediction, harmony, J. Philip Newell, prayer, spring, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

As we keep stretching toward the spring with all the beauty of nature, we hold on just a little longer, satisfied (as much as possible) with the tiny sprigs of green—the daffodils—that cling to the the side of the house where they can be warm enough to push up through the ground. I peek out each day measuring their progress by inches and cheering them for their willingness to stay the course. And I thank God for any sign of progress that strengthens my hope in nature and humanity. And so I pray:

That you have placed a harmony of lights in the heavens that night is followed by day and the glowing of the moon by the glistening of the sun, thanks be to you, O God. That you have placed a harmony of lights in my soul that there is a gentleness and firmness of strength, intuitive knowing and enlightened reasoning, thanks be to you. Let me be so sure of your laws of harmony in all things that I seek it in my own depths and in knowing it in my inner life yearn for it in the torn relationships my world, man and woman, black and white, sun and moon in a harmony of movement. (J. Philip Newell, Celtic Benediction, p. 46)

Dawning Light

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J. Philip Newell, light, morning praise, pray, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

6:39AM: The snow of the past 48 hours has finally stopped and we will see temperatures above 40 degrees today (perhaps). It is a day, then, for morning praise. I choose J. Philip Newell for my prayer partner:

For the first showings of the morning light and the emerging outline of the day, thanks be to You, O God. For earth’s colors drawn forth by the sun, it’s brilliance piercing clouds of darkness and shimmering through the leaves and flowing waters, thanks be to You. Show me this day amidst life’s dark streaks of wrong and suffering the light that endures in every person. Dispel the confusions that cling close to my soul, that I may see with eyes washed by Your grace, that I may see myself and all people with eyes cleansed by the freshness of the new day’s light. (Celtic Benediction, p. 40)

Newell then suggests that we pray for the coming day and for the life of the world. I suggest we try for a rising of hope in that prayer. We need it!

What Would It Take?

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A Deep Breath of Life, Alan Cohen, Celtic Benediction, courage, go all in, goodness, graces, J. Philip Newell, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, worthiness

Sometimes two ideas collide in my early morning moments pushing me to look deeply for readiness. (Shakespeare said: “The readiness is all.”) Here’s what I mean.

First, I read about a woman who sold her house to buy a Stradivarius violin. The commentary about that exchange said the following. The breadth of passion, joy and beauty that she brought into the world through playing that violin far exceeded any gifts she might have offered by inviting friends to her house for tea…Give me the knowledge of my worthiness and the courage to invest in myself. (A Deep Breath of Life – Alan Cohen)

Then, a morning prayer: The world is alive with your goodness, O God. It grows green from the ground and ripens into the roundness of fruit. Its taste and its touch enliven my body and stir my soul. Generously given, profusely displayed, your graces of goodness pour forth from the earth. As I have received so free me to give. As I have been granted so may I give…Pray for the coming day and for the life of the world. (Celtic Benediction – J. Philip Newell)

The challenge of selling all to have what would create the deepest willingness of soul so that transformation resulted is clear in the example of the violin. The question then remains: Am I as willing to “go all in” in my prayer for the life of the world and in my work for this day? What would it take of consciousness, resolve and time? Do I have it in me?

Early Prayer

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J. Philip Newell, justice, Peace, stillness, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

The daily New York Times “Morning Briefing” was sobering, as was the weather report for today. I don’t ever remember a day in January when the temperature in New York State reached 60 degrees (F.) I sit in the silence wondering where we are going and what we need to be doing in order to survive the crises – political, environmental and spiritual. I am buoyed up as much as anything by the words of J. Philip Newell just now. There are two pieces from his Saturday Morning Prayer that help me.

1. Let me know in my own soul and body the rhythms of creativity that you have established. Let me know in my family and friendships the disciplines of withdrawal and the call to engagement. Let me know for my world the cycles of renewal given by you for healing and health, the pattern of the seasons given by you for the birth of new life.

2. In the busyness of this day grant me a stillness of seeing, O God. In the conflicting voices of my heart grant me a calmness of hearing. Let my seeing and hearing, my words and my actions be rooted in a silent certainty of your presence. Let my passions for life and the longings for justice that stir within me be grounded in the experience of your stillness. Let my life be rooted in the ground of your peace, O God. Let me be rooted in the depths of your peace. (Celtic Benediction, p. 76 – 77)

Saturday Morning

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Celtic Benediction, J. Philip Newell, prayer, rebirth, renewal, thank you, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

There is so much to pray for these days – so many distresses and sadnesses to endure – that sometimes we forget the words “thank you.” As we come to the end of another week, it is good to remember gratitude, even in our asking, so I turn again to J. Philip Newell who has a wonderful way to lead us there.

For the night followed by the day, for the idle winter ground followed by the energy of spring, for the infolding of the earth followed by bursts of unfolding, thanks be to you, O God. For rest and wakefulness, stillness and creativity, reflection and action, thanks be to you. Let me know in my own soul and body the rhythms of creativity that you have established. Let me know in my family and friendships the disciplines of withdrawal and the call to engagement. Let me know for my world the cycles of renewal given by you for healing and health, the pattern of the seasons given by you for the birth of new life. (Celtic Benediction, p. 76)

Aftermath

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Celtic Benediction, J. Philip Newell, morning silence, silence, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, utterances

The silence around me this morning is broken only by my typing. There is (thankfully) no wind. Even in North Carolina, the hurricane has been downgraded to a category one storm. While still grieving for the inhabitants of the Bahamas, I offer a prayer of hope in the stillness of the morning.

“In the silence of the early morning your Spirit hovers over the brink of the day and new light pierces the darkness of the night. In the silence of the morning life begins to stir around me and I listen for the day’s first utterances. In earth, sea and sky and in the landscape of my own soul I listen for utterances of your love, O God. I listen for utterances of your love.”

(J. Philip Newell, Celtic Benediction, p. 74)

Just for Today

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believe, Celtic Treasures: Daily Scriptures and Prayer, courage, faith, fear, freedom, heart, hope, J. Philip Newell, laughter, promises, tears, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today, just a short prayer for the 24-hour journey in which we find ourselves. J. Philip Newell is the author.

Hope and fear, laughter and tears have been part of our journey. Joy and pain, longing and doubt meet on the pathway. Often we do not believe, O God, and sometimes we doubt that your promises can be true. Grant us and our world the freedom to laugh, the courage to cry, the heart to be open and the faith to believe. (Celtic Treasure: Daily Scriptures and Prayer)

October

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autumn, awaken, Celtic Benediction, foliage, goodness, J. Philip Newell, life, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

As I was mowing the lawn yesterday I woke up to the shift in the season. The colors are changing, the smells and earthiness on the breeze in the back field are different and there is a wistfulness that bubbles up in me to know that once again we are moving away from the lightness of summer. At the same time, I am now alert for the glory to come as I search the trees for the tinges of color that announce the autumn miracle of the leaves. It’s always a risk that the summer was too wet or too dry to allow much color in the autumn leaves but we are usually wrong and nature puts on a lovely show. I found a little prayer this morning, just right to accompany me this day.

In the beginning, O God, when the firm earth emerged from the waters of life, you saw that it was good. The fertile ground was moist, the seed was strong and earth’s profusion of color and scent was born. Awaken my senses this day to the goodness that still stems from Eden. Awaken my senses to the goodness that can still spring forth in me and in all that has life. (J Philip Newell, Celtic Benediction, p. 26)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiatus

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betrayals, blessings, Celtic Treasures, encounters, faithful, heal, J. Philip Newell, open our hearts, speak, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, the whole of life

I am going to be away from home this week and am unsure now of internet availability as well as scheduled events. I will return home next Sunday hoping to resume this daily practice on Monday. I leave with hope of a peaceful week for us all and a prayer of J. Philip Newell to accompany our days.

You speak to us in all things, O God, in the rising of the sun and its setting, in dreams of the night and the encounters of day. Let us know you in the whole of life, in both the blessings and the betrayals of our lives. Heal our hurts and open our hearts that as families and nations we may be faithful to one another. (Celtic Treasures, p. 50)