Category Archives: prayer

The not ungrateful leper

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

It was not ingratitude silenced me, but inadequacy; the paucity of my language; the paltry dance of palsied limbs, trembling as a fawn, trembling as one newly born, barely breathing; rasping out music as though the song had been buried … Continue reading →

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The yearning

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

I dare not reach for glory, for fear of falling. I cannot bear to love you, for fear of drowning. I dare not turn away from you, for fear of desolation.

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Overwhelming

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

I am considering the word “overwhelmed.” I cannot unsee the news photography: cars sinking, dramatic rescues, coffins floating down streets overwhelmed by the Flood; an airbag deployed, overspilling its plastic cage, overwhelming the object of its zealous protection; she is … Continue reading →

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Off centre

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

The hedgerow maze boxes me in, walls me out through another false turn. In the centre hides perfection, unbreakable cypher, impassive God. Out in the margins of error, the elbow crook of one more dead end, lies Jesus, sprawled as though we … Continue reading →

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August

Posted on August 11, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

The cicadas are praising God incessantly; while my last frayed nerve curls with the rising humidity, they sing, and play their tiny violins, an orchestra of prayer. I would join them, but my soul is having a bad hair day, refuses … Continue reading →

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Psalmbird

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

At last week’s Summer Music Camp, we learned all about David the songwriter (the one from the Bible, as we had constantly to disambiguate). We learned to sing Psalm 23 in childlike form. We listened to Kiri te Kanawa singing … Continue reading →

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Year C Proper 12: Teach us to pray

Posted on July 24, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

Jesus gave a couple of different words of advice to his disciples about prayer. In one, he tells his disciples to lock themselves behind closed doors in secret, to pray privately to God, and there is a place for that … Continue reading →

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About prayer

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

Father, Mother, source of life, all being; your very name fills us with awe. We long to know you, ruler of all; unelected, you elect us to do your will, here, now, forever. You who nursed creation as it grew, … Continue reading →

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Martha & Mary

Posted on July 16, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

There is so much to be done: the sweeping of the streets, the hanging of bags full of plasma, saline, the careful placement of Kleenex. There are so many distractions: tanks and trucks, bullets and bombs, the cleaning of windows … Continue reading →

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“Do not be overcome by evil”

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Rosalind C Hughes

… “but overcome evil with good.” Continue reading →

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