This Is My Prayer

This is my prayer...

to look with wonder at the ocean filling the horizon

to see the waves crashing on the rocks

to watch the foam scrub the sand.

This is my prayer...

to hear the song of the sea

to see the windblown palms

to smell the rain on the wind

to feel the wind and sun on my skin.

This is my prayer...

watching the scented smoke curl up to heaven

breathing in the ancient sacred fragrances, frankincense and myrrh

blowing on the coals

watching the sparks fly

feeling the heat from the glowing coals.

This is my prayer...

tasting the sea

touching the sand

smelling the flowers

savoring the fruit.

This is my prayer...

speaking the ancient words of scripture

praying the words

hearing the words

sharing the words

wrestling and being wrestled by the words

and the Word in the words.

This is my prayer...

walking

swimming

sitting

seeing

touching

tasting

listening

reading

writing

preaching

praying

being.

Here.

Free to Feel

I am so grateful 

for the freedom 

to feel

what I feel

anxiety

hope

fear 

peace

Presence

comfort

Accompaniment.

I am not alone.

Amen.

The Other side of Anxiety

The word of the Lord through the poet-prophet Rumi to me:

You've been fearful

of being absorbed in the ground,

or drawn up by the air.

Now, your waterbead lets go

and drops into the ocean,

where it came from.

It no longer has the form it had,

but it's still water

The essence is the same.

This giving up is not a repenting.

It's a deep honoring of yourself.

When the ocean comes to you as a lover,

marry at once, quickly,

for God's sake!