Prayer & Praise
When the world spins crazy,
spins wild and out of control
spins toward rage and hate and violence,
spins beyond our wisdom and nearly beyond our faith,
When the world spins in chaos as it does now among us…
We are glad for sobering roots that provide ballast in the storm.
So we thank you for our rootage in communities of faith,
for our many fathers and mothers who have believed and trusted as firm witnesses to us,
for their many stories of wonder, awe, and healing.
We are glad this night in this company
for the rootage of the text,
for the daring testimony,
for its deep commands,
for its exuberant tales.
Because we know that as we probe deep into this text…
clear to its bottom,
we will find you hiding there,
we will find you showing yourself there,
speaking as you do,
governing,
healing,
judging.
And when we meet you hiddenly,
we find the spin not so unnerving,
because from you the world again has a chance
for life and sense and wholeness.
We pray midst the spinning, not yet unnerved,
but waiting and watching and listening,
for you are the truth that contains all our spin. Amen.
Walter Brueggemann
Please pray for my friend’s unborn grandchild. The drs are concerned there are severe problems . Lord have mercy.
For sure, Nonnie
If you can believe it, I am Vestry of our Anglican church. I guess that is answered prayer, so I figured I would mention it here.
Reuben, if congratulations are in order – CONGRATULATIONS!!
I have a question, and I may have this out of order. I thought you said that you were preparing to go through the church’s catechism classes sometime in the near future. How is it they put you in leadership before the classes?
I only ask because you seemed somewhat reluctant to take the position.
Nonnie, praying.
Praying, Nonnie.
Reuben…praying and celebrating as God works through you!
MLD,
The congregation, existing Vestry, and Priest saw fit to overlook the fact that I was not “confirmed” in the church. I am starting the catechism classes this month. The vote was 100%.
praying
Reuben, I’m rejoicing to see God’s gifts in you continuing to be used.
I’m really liking this prayer…praying it again this morning.
I never understand any of these Brueggemann prayers. Who is he praying too?
Perhaps that is the sign of a good prayer – it can be used by anybody to pray to their own gods.
Thanks, MLD. Nice to know the snarky continues on to the prayer thread. I’m off to prepare for a trip to NM, knowing full well who I am praying to..even in this prayer.
That wasn’t snarky at all – I have not seen in one of these Brueggemann prayers any reference to Jesus, or anything that indicates at all that they are Christian prayers. Not that they can’t be prayed by Christians.
But I will move along.
Praying for you Sarah, as you go visit your family in NM.
MLD,
If you can’t recognize the God of the Bible in these prayers I will pray that you get to know Him better..
Praying for you Sarah as you make your way here…I too find comfort in these prayers and know to Whom they are addressed…
FWIW, perhaps MLD does have a point – maybe not appropriate here, but it is a valid point, i think
we who know God through our redemption in Christ Jesus hit the ground running as we read Brueggemann, but the prayer is not evangelistic in pointing the seeker to the Savior – it easily could be read by a non-believer, who’d then walk away thinking, perhaps, that he understood our Faith?
have an interview for an admin position at ups tomorrow morning, prayers appreciated.
How’d it go Jlo?
I think it went well. They asked a lot of question (3 people panel) and they took a ton of notes. So God willing this could be the one. I should hear back by the middle of next week.