Category Archives: prayer

A prayer for the next day

This was published July 5th on the Episcopal Cafe. The previous day, I had visited with my new friends: a refugee family from the Congo living in Cleveland. “There will be fireworks,” I told them. “Oh no!” The parents exchanged … Continue reading

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Sunday at Collegeville

Sunday morning, starting slowly; Abbey bells blocked by insomniac dreams. After three days of rising – psalms at dawn in the abbey church- this morning is for the tomb,  wrapped in winding sheets, the womb of sleep. But the breath … Continue reading

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The Sparrow

For the sparrows that feature in this week’s gospel reading. This poem was first published by the Collegeville Institute’s Bearings. Coincidentally, today I fly to Collegeville. I Sparrow is packing heat. He has taken up residence atop a propane burner … Continue reading

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Holy Comforter

Do not be alarmed by her unpredictability. She knows what she is doing. She speaks your language. She knows your name. Continue reading

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Sunday morning

It’s Sunday morning. I had thought maybe of retracing my steps to my childhood church, twenty miles away; but the moment passed. I will stay in the village. In fact, I am locked in my father’s house; he may or … Continue reading

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Crossing time

This time next week, I hope to have reached the mountaintop. Between here and there is a steep and rocky ridge. Last time I crossed Crib Goch, it was on my hands and knees. My ambition, some quarter of a … Continue reading

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Beyond silence

Straining to hear the voice of God over the hum of life; the drone & drum of the washing machine. Beyond the doors, a bird solicits sex; behind the brain, electric chatter & whine; the idea of silence unthinkable  since … Continue reading

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Learning to pray

They didn’t tell us why … Continue reading

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Holy Week

Seven days. Seven shades of suffering silence. Seven last words: thirst, famine, fever, finality, yet, too, there is forgiveness, family, a future spit from split lips, a dry tongue still willing to kiss the face of God

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The prayer of Lazarus

The prayer of Lazarus, silent by necessity. Continue reading

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