Last night after our Taize service, I found myself
unable to leave the chapel. For about 20 minutes
after the last person who walked through the chapel
doors left, I sat in the dark with only candles
burning, listening, being still, and praying.
At first I didn’t know what to pray for. There was
so much on my mind. There are those in life who are
in a season of transition. There are those in life
who are enduring pain and heartache.
There are those in life who are battling with all
their might an illness: physical, spiritual,
emotional, or mental. There are those who find their
lives uprooted by injustices; by violence; by
hatred; by oppression. There are those in Baltimore.
The are those in Nepal. There are those in the LGBTQ
community. There are those in our own pews: you and
me.
Where does prayer begin? How does prayer begin when
the world is so full of hurt?
Silence.
That’s where.
A fellow pastor recently posted this prayer and
today, I’ve found myself praying it over and over
and over...
O God, O Spirit, O Christ, Help me today to
listen. Even more than usual. Even more than
yesterday.
Help me to listen to voices usually silenced. Help
me to listen to voices I put down. Help me to listen
to those who have no voice. Help me to listen to
those whose voices were taken from them. Help me to
listen to those who disagree with me. Help me to
listen to those who call me out. Help me to listen
for hidden agendas and unknown biases. Help me to
listen for my own privilege sneaking out of my own
voice. And most of all help me to listen for you.
Help me to listen for you in the voices of my
neighbors, my friends, and my enemies. Help me
listen to the ways you are calling me to action.
Help me to listen to the truth, hope and love in
your everlasting voice.
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Help me today to listen. Even more than usual.
Even more than yesterday.
Amen.
Everyone has a voice. As God’s people, I always
thought we were to be the voice for the voiceless. I realize now
this isn’t the case.
We are to listen for the voices of all people. We are to help them
sing their song. We are to cultivate a community where all can be
hear and their stories shared. And then, listen to them. Whether
they are familiar voices or voices that cause our pulse to quicken.
Listen to the people in your lives. Truly listen. Stop and listen.
Silently listen. And you’ll soon discover, you’ve been praying the
whole time….
[Adam Quine, First Presbyterian Church in Lincoln] |
