I Offer It
my life is not my own—
i hold it, like a gift
look—the sun comes up over the fields
and last night’s rain turns into
diamonds of light on the rice
and we can love these moments we have
our lives are gifts, i am bound to the Eternal One
God of the Creation, God of the Forever
and it is friendly here, with God
and it is kind here, with God
it is tender
and I hold out my life to the Eternal One
i hold it in my hands, and i offer it.
This is for Being
i am learning
to listen or read
ideas or opinions
and to try to understand
–to be present
in the waves of pain and flailing
of this world–
without taking it all into the
small, careful place in my soul
where i sit with God’s love.
we drift into one another here
and i can observe the outside
without throwing things around inside
or scattering crumbs all over my temple
this place is for being
for singing my prayers, for love
this is a place of soft dusk
the light of a candle,
this is a place
for devotion,
a simple place
here i don’t need anything
but to be near God
to heed the newness of
everything each day
to sit in peace and
watch the unfolding,
in the love, in the presence,
with words, light, and love.
Lord, I Am Your Temple
Lord, i am your temple
teach me
at this little hearth
where i light my candle
i bring this altar with me
everywhere
you are there
everywhere
teach me to not be afraid
of unknown spaces
i have
the warmth of the inner temple
your Spirit your light
your kindness your
gentle touch
when i have to shake off
the howling of dreams
keep me
when i have to remind myself
of your light
keep me
when i feel alone and afraid
draw near to me
my love
draw near
my light
draw near to me
draw near
My Prayers
morning comes.
i open my jar of stones
empty it into my lap
and the sounds of stirring
are like the sounds
of a faraway shore
the tide on pebbles
tumbling them to softness
until, as now,
they are smooth in my hands
and my prayers are like this
like the sighing,
the gentle clattering
of waves on the shore.
