I noticed today how the words prayer and share rhyme and it occurred to me after reading some beautiful prayers in Stephanie Dowrick’s book Heaven on Earth : Timeless Prayers of Wisdom and Love that in prayer we share our hearts with God or our higher power and angels.. In prayer we can open up all our feelings, we know they can be contained by a larger loving force and source and true faith should give us the sense we are beloved by God and life, even if others fail us at times..
Yesterday a Facebook friend of African descent got upset that someone suggested some dancing may relieve some of the present angst over racism and violence towards people of colour, he got offended and when I suggested it was maybe more about taking some time out from the anger he was feeling not negating it in any way : he was hurt by that suggestion too. ..I understood it must be so hard to deal with this level of torture every day but I also hoped that in some place he could find even a few moments to experience love and joy in the midst of all the pain, angst, anguish and sorrow. That said he was not in that place and I understand.
Never the less even in the midst of great pain when I open my heart I still so often feel held and known by a source beyond me.. When I go into nature I can experience that healing from a source but what most of us most deeply long for is also to be embraced by our brother’s and sisters and helped when we need a helping hand, lent some of their light and warmth when we struggle in the dark…at the same time we must find ways to seek the light within….
The subject of someone older falling down and not being helped came up twice last night, first in a stand up comedy routine by English comedian Noel Fielding and then in a talk Lorna Byrne the angel lady was having that I listened to on YouTube before going to bed. Surely in our life we need to help the fallen and those who need us, perhaps it is our highest purpose.. How others can just ignore it or walk by when someone falls I can just not understand.
Anyway I wanted to share the following prayer included in Stephanie Dowrick’s collection. This one really touched me and opened my heart. I hope you love it too. I would like to share some more of these lovely poems over the coming days.
Blessed is the grace that crowns the sky with stars
and keeps the planets on their ways,
the law that turns night to day
and fills our eyes with light
the love that keeps us whole
and day by day sustains us.
Praised be the Power
that brings renewal to the soul,
and vital song that makes the whole of creation dance.
Blessed is the murmuring dark
and blessed is light to the eyes.
The fall of dusk,
the turning of the day
we give thanks for life’s renewal
the radiant return of the sun
the blessed power of creation.
Praised be the light.
Traditional Jewish Prayer at Yom Kippur
Emerging From The Dark Night 