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dreamprayact

~ Reflections of a preacher, poet, and contemplative activist

dreamprayact

Tag Archives: spiritual wholeness

Ashes

18 Wednesday Feb 2015

Posted by mark lloyd richardson in Poems, Reflections

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Ash Wednesday, Confession, death, Lent, new creation, reconciliation, salvation, spiritual wholeness

ash
Ashes
earthy gray
dry as parched wilderness
symbol that we too shall perish

Dust to dust
ashes to ashes
each of us makes our humble return
back to the habitat of our origins

All that is false is allowed to die –
misguided allegiances
harmful compulsions
lingering resentments
ego-driven agendas –
dead on the ash heap of confession

Only then is there a new beginning
a reconciling
a turning toward wholeness
a desiring for God

Finally in the fullness of time
the desert blooms again
salvation comes
life triumphing over death.

Words (c) Mark Lloyd Richardson, 2015

Newness

01 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by mark lloyd richardson in Prayers

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

beauty of creation, compassion, creative presence, goodwill, kindness, New Year, newness, peace, prayer, spiritual wholeness

Douglas Family Preserve, Santa Barbara, CA

Douglas Family Preserve, Santa Barbara, CA

Create in us, dear God,
minds that appreciate truth wherever it is found,
hearts that revel in the beauty of this world,
spirits that sing of peace and goodwill for all.

Challenge us to see the problems of our day
and not be overcome by them.

Encourage us to begin one new endeavor,
open one new chapter,
relate to one new person,
learn one new skill,
trust one new intuition,
bless one new relationship,
with our whole selves.

We may not solve the world’s problems,
but we will become part of the answer.

We will be compassionate.
We will be kind.
We will be open.
We will be your children
with and for one another.

Words (c)2015 Mark Lloyd Richardson

Prayer Changes Me

20 Thursday Jun 2013

Posted by mark lloyd richardson in Prayers, Worship Liturgy

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

C.S. Lewis, fears, Gerasene demoniac, Gospel of Luke, Healing prayer, Jesus, Luke 8:26-39, personal change, power of prayer, restlessness, Revised Common Lectionary, spiritual wholeness

prayer-virtuous-pagans

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”

Here’s a prayer inspired by the miracle story of Jesus’ encounter with the “Gerasene demoniac” in Luke 8:26-39 (Gospel Reading for Proper 7, Year C, Revised Common Lectionary).

Healing Lord,
in this world of disconnection and disrepair,
in which we often walk past each other’s pain,
you come among us as a calming presence.

At times our very identities are at risk
and we feel disoriented by waves of change.
Yet you do not remain at a distance.
You come near to reassure and remind us
that our lives are formed within your love
from which we can never be separated.

Each of us faces our own demons.
We are threatened by troubles within and trials without.
The loneliness of isolation continues to plague us.

Then your voice reaches through our restlessness,
your powerful presence casts out our fears –
rescuing us from our addictions,
releasing us from our anxieties,
reclaiming us from our wounds.

We are made whole again,
we are unbound and set free,
we are changed!

Words (c) 2013 Mark Lloyd Richardson

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