Quiet, World,
Quiet, Mind
Quiet, All …
For first we must listen
First, we must wait.
Come into our consciousness
With your word to us, O Holy One
Our lives are like rivers –
Some are freely flowing and smooth
Some are troubled and murky.
At times our thoughts and words,
our needs and cares come rushing forth.
We seek answers, direction and courage for our living.
But sometimes these concerns return as backwash upon us.
And you seem absent.
Help us, Loving One,
to find the still pools of quiet
amidst the rushing torrents of our lives.
For when we are quiet, we hear you.
For when we are still, we see the depths.
For when we stop, we know our direction.
We thank you
for the peaceful rivers of our lives
where calm bays reflect the beauty of life around
where cool waters refresh tired souls
We thank you
for our singing rivers
that shimmer in the light
that babble over stones
that splash down waterfalls
and ever bring freshness to dull routine.
We thank you
for the mighty rivers of our lives
where there is strength
where we glide as boats toward the sea
and new worlds open.
We pray, O God, for those who are caught in the troubled waters of their lives
drowning
trapped in whirlpools of frustration
stagnant
uncontrolled
lost
winding, but not knowing where.
Fill our life-rivers with your living waters.
May our lives become life-giving because you fill us.
May we overflow and enable life to come to the parched land around us.
Amen