#1 in the Christmastide Prayers for Peace Series
Find a quiet place and invite the God of your understanding into this moment and space made sacred by Love.
When ready, read the entire St. Francis Prayer* slowly. Deliberately. But also without any should’s or prejudice. Just read the words attributed to St. Francis, and sought by so many as a path of peace. (The Prayer in its entirety is located at the end of each post for easy reference.)
Next, write the first prayer as it begins, and as it is yours:
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace – that where there is hatred, I may bring love.
Let the words seep in. Notice what is struck or poked as a thought or a feeling.
Pay attention to which phrase or word, if any, jumps out to you as if in BOLD or appearing where it never was before! Or, what words want to hide from you in denial, misunderstanding, regret, or refusal?
Take time to listen to your soul and write about these notices/feelings/emotions/questions. Listen to the words on the page, and the words inside of you. Write them down. Thank them.
And, if there is silence, allow yourself to sit in the familiar comfort of these words of peace.
CONVERSATION STARTERS
CHANNEL. That is the word that leapt from the old prayer as new. Behind it followed conduit, carrier, courier, and child. I saw with new eyes that I am not the originator of peace – mine, or God’s, or the world’s. I noticed too the humility of standing before God, heart open and asking, “Lord, make me a channel of thy peace.”
I reasoned and reckoned that there are times when THY peace may not be what I believe MY peace should look like. I considered: Is that okay with me? And, after a time, I was able to answer – at least in theory and from the safety of my morning couch – Yes. I want to be made a channel, a conduit, a carrier, a courier, a child of God’s peace. And trust, as I can, that this kind of peace won’t restrict or deny me what I believe to be joy.
*Prayer of St. Francis, as presented in ‘Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions‘
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace – that where there is hatred, I may bring love – that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness – that where there is discord, I may bring harmony – that where there is error, I may bring truth – that where there is doubt, I may bring faith – that where there is despair, I may bring hope – that where there are shadows, I may bring light – that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted – to understand, than to be understood – to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life. Amen.
PLEASE NOTE: This is a public forum and comments and questions are always welcomed, but please be thoughtful and respectful to the journey for yourself and for others. Please also know that I welcome hearing from you directly about your thoughts, comments, questions and suggestions during and after this Christmastide season. www.theresa@theresawyatt.com
Nature provides a great carrier as the message is flowing changing and open to interpretation doubt and action
Thank you for sharing this. Love the connection to Nature.
Being reminded that I was/am not the originator re-ordered me. I realized I have not asked God about the nature/essence/intent/outworking of God’s peace. I was thankful for the painting, as I had regrets about a few comments I made at Christmas dinner. Those comments were not the totality. There was some beauty/fruit in the midst of the one-upmanship freezeout.
Thank you for taking the time to post what came up, and out! Giving me pause to think about beauty and fruits alongside my less-than-best moments.
I am standing on the edge of “where there is.” As I consider my own journey, “where there is,” is where I am called. I pray my presence, words, and actions meet the need for those in that place to be a service of empathy and compassion as I am called to reach out to them. I also want to receive the same from those who are sent to me because I have been placed on their path of Divine service.
Blessings and peace
Thank you for being willing to stand on the edge, and to share your journey. Blessings and peace to you too, with love.