a prayer for a winter Sabbath

A Sabbath Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, sometimes the days seem to fly by with smoothness and delight. On those days the sunlight dances through the trees, bare limbs waving in the rhythm of the flowing wind. On those days the light laughs on the rippled surface of rivers and streams, of lakes and ponds, joining the dance of all the worlds before your throne. Some days are glad and golden, Dear Lord Jesus, even in the middle of the winter.

There are other days. You know that we journey through days of shadows: of fear, of pain; shadows of grief and sorrow. We must pass through days (Why are they always so long?) of disappointment and anger. Something or someone is always invading the peace of the created order with strife and pain. Dear Lord Jesus, help us when we are impatient in the shadow time, when we cause shadows in the lives of others, when our hunger for the light is so very great that we are tempted to mistake the darkness for light. Help us. Lead us again toward your rainbow throne, toward the emerald sky, toward the true colors of our faith. Lead us again to the place where we can hear the angels sing their praises, where we can see through eyes of faith the elders casting their crowns before you. Take us to the place where all the creatures of all the worlds fall down and worship you, to the place where our lives may be refocused on the true center, even you, Dear Lord Jesus.

Be especially close to those whose journey is difficult today. Be close to the weak and the weary, the feeble hands, the wobbly knees. Be strength to their hearts and spirits today. Be with those who suffer violence. Touch and heal. Touch and renew. Touch all of us as we wait before you this day. Dear Lord Jesus, may we feel your presence working miracles in our lives as we sing your song and pray your light-filled prayer… Pray the Lord's Prayer.

from Prayers by Willard Spencer

A Mother's Illness

A Mother's Illness

She is just too ill, Lord.
And I'm too proud to cry;
But my heart is awfully heavy
Since I heard she was to die.

It was only yesterday, Lord,
She stood so straight and tall,
Healthy as a mighty oak,
A marvel to us all.

She raised a family of girls,
With a boy or two thrown in.
Taught them how to work and pray,
And cherish all their kin.

The Sunday School will miss her.
For the lessons that she taught,
That faith, and hope and charity
Were virtues to be sought.

They'll miss her hearty laughter
And the sunny, subtle smile.
The day was bright, the shadows fled
When she would sit and talk awhile.

Now she is just too ill, Lord.
And I'm not to proud to cry.
For all our hearts are burdened since
We heard she was to die.

poem by Willard Spencer

Perspective and Balance

Perspective and Balance

Perspective and Balance

One of the hard learned lessons of all our days is that of perspective. For instance, often things at close hand look more exciting or threatening and take most of our attention. But, as in the photo above, the nearby action begins way out beyond the horizon, and the source of the forces hitting nearby really begin far out of sight. Don't just react to the waves on the shore. Remember, and allow for, the motion of things far out or long ago. Today is always linked to yesterday. One clue is to maintain a balance of the immediate pressures and the forces way beyond the horizon that are working on us. In perspective, keep a good balance on your feelings and thoughts, your actions and your reactions. And may the Most High be with us always.

Willard Spencer

Pictures by w spencer. Pier at Myrtle Beach and Grandson Josh