Tuesday Prayer

 

Yesterday, I shared with you two beautiful poem/prayers that blessed you on Christmas Day.  Today, we turn to the beloved words of prophet and pastor Howard Thurman.  I invite you to slowly savor these words.  I encourage you to pause after each line to let what you are reading soak and sing to your soul.  I invite you to let these words into the story you are telling yourself and co-authoring with God. 

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the kings and princes are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flock,

The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,

To heal the broken,

To feed the hungry,

To release the prisoner,

To rebuild the nations,

To bring peace among others,

To make music in the heart.

I encourage you today to open your heart to how in the coming year you might be open to those who are lost who cross the path of life.  Who are those who are hurting and how can you be a wounded healer (note this is a phrase from Henri Nouwen who said we don’t heal others because we have it all figured out. Rather, we heal others when our pain meets their pain).  Who are those who are in prison ~ noting this could be physical or emotional or depression or spiritual prison (we can get locked into theologies that have nothing to do with God). How might we heal our nation this coming election year?  How might you be at peace through your words and actions?  Perhaps, it is the final line about making music, singing with gusto, letting loose the song God is composing and conducting in your life that informs and influences all the above!  Let this beautiful poem prayer sing to your heart this day and week.  Amen.