Saturday, May 22, 2004
Jesus, Lord,
You who showed us the way
while walking the dusty roads
and hearing our woes,
and feeling the pain
of being overwhelmed,
rejected,
misunderstood,
tired,
You who showed us the way
with love,
understanding,
forgiveness,
example,
kindness,
sacrifice,
be with us all today,
that we might learn the lessons you taught,
be the people you long for us to be,
be beacons of your light in a dark and angry world,
be your messengers of peace and love.
Remind us, Lord,
how you hold our hands when things seem so hard,
how you bring us rest when the way seems to weary,
how you long to be our strength and shield.
Help us ever to trust you more,
love you more,
be yours more,
now and forever,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
You who showed us the way
while walking the dusty roads
and hearing our woes,
and feeling the pain
of being overwhelmed,
rejected,
misunderstood,
tired,
You who showed us the way
with love,
understanding,
forgiveness,
example,
kindness,
sacrifice,
be with us all today,
that we might learn the lessons you taught,
be the people you long for us to be,
be beacons of your light in a dark and angry world,
be your messengers of peace and love.
Remind us, Lord,
how you hold our hands when things seem so hard,
how you bring us rest when the way seems to weary,
how you long to be our strength and shield.
Help us ever to trust you more,
love you more,
be yours more,
now and forever,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Friday, May 21, 2004
Friday Evening Meditation
There are moments like this, Lord,
where all I seem to have to offer
is pain,
fear,
grief,
acceptance of your way
and faith in your word.
and then I remember your mother,
what she offered up
that friday so long ago,
and how she felt
led away by friends
into the darkening night,
and I realize
that although they seems small,
or useless,
or trite,
how precious these offerings
of how pained we are,
but how willingly we trust
are in the hands
of a God who chose to feel all those things
for love.
Teach me to love like you, Lord,
and give my yes as willingly as your mother,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
There are moments like this, Lord,
where all I seem to have to offer
is pain,
fear,
grief,
acceptance of your way
and faith in your word.
and then I remember your mother,
what she offered up
that friday so long ago,
and how she felt
led away by friends
into the darkening night,
and I realize
that although they seems small,
or useless,
or trite,
how precious these offerings
of how pained we are,
but how willingly we trust
are in the hands
of a God who chose to feel all those things
for love.
Teach me to love like you, Lord,
and give my yes as willingly as your mother,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Labels: Friday Meditations
Thursday, May 20, 2004
Mary, Queen of Peace
Mary,
Queen of Peace,
help me learn the ways of true peace,
the peace your Son gives,
the peace that comes from saying yes
like you did,
when God asks,
the peace that comes from knowing
that we are in in hands of a loving God,
the peace that comes from knowing
he has tasted our sorrows,
and longs to give us joy.
Mary,
Queen of Peace,
pray for us now,
in this time where the world's peace
has shattered into a million shards,
and we truly can see
the only true peace
comes from Heaven.
Mary,
Queen of Peace,
given to us by your own son
to be mother of us all,
pray for us,
o lovely Lady,
that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Mary,
Queen of Peace,
help me learn the ways of true peace,
the peace your Son gives,
the peace that comes from saying yes
like you did,
when God asks,
the peace that comes from knowing
that we are in in hands of a loving God,
the peace that comes from knowing
he has tasted our sorrows,
and longs to give us joy.
Mary,
Queen of Peace,
pray for us now,
in this time where the world's peace
has shattered into a million shards,
and we truly can see
the only true peace
comes from Heaven.
Mary,
Queen of Peace,
given to us by your own son
to be mother of us all,
pray for us,
o lovely Lady,
that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Morning Prayer
Lord,
I give you thanks this day
for the gift of this day.
May I use it in ways
you would have me to use it.
Remembering your mercy,
may my ways share that mercy
even to the unmerciful.
Remembering your love,
may I spread that love
especially when I want to spread hurt.
Remembering your gift of peace,
may I spread the peace you give me
to those whose lives touch mine,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Lord,
I give you thanks this day
for the gift of this day.
May I use it in ways
you would have me to use it.
Remembering your mercy,
may my ways share that mercy
even to the unmerciful.
Remembering your love,
may I spread that love
especially when I want to spread hurt.
Remembering your gift of peace,
may I spread the peace you give me
to those whose lives touch mine,
this day and always,
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Shelter
Dear Lord,
So dark the clouds
that have gathered,
clouds of anger and hate.
Was it always this way,
and have I just seen how dark it all is,
or has the storm gathered
even while I watched?
Nonetheless,
I know you are there,
holding my hand,
asking me to hold fast
even as the winds gather
to blow across the land.
You are the shelter I turn to
as the tempest rages,
and I know
that whatever befalls me,
and the millions of other mes out there
wondering the same question,
you will hold those of us who seek out your safety
and take us home with you
when the time comes.
Susan E. Stone, 2oo4
Dear Lord,
So dark the clouds
that have gathered,
clouds of anger and hate.
Was it always this way,
and have I just seen how dark it all is,
or has the storm gathered
even while I watched?
Nonetheless,
I know you are there,
holding my hand,
asking me to hold fast
even as the winds gather
to blow across the land.
You are the shelter I turn to
as the tempest rages,
and I know
that whatever befalls me,
and the millions of other mes out there
wondering the same question,
you will hold those of us who seek out your safety
and take us home with you
when the time comes.
Susan E. Stone, 2oo4
Monday, May 17, 2004
Amid all the fear and anger,
encircled by the pain and hurt
the shortsightedness,
the xenophobia,
the determination,
using might to make right
or at least to fulfill the agenda,
I kneel here, knowing
that no matter what,
you are with me.
And though it looks like
we are dwelling in
the valley of the shadow of death,
where bandits hide in ambush,
and darkness shelters those
who despise the truth,
and peace seems like such a dream,
you are the lamp
who is willing to guide each step I make,
until you bring me safely home.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
encircled by the pain and hurt
the shortsightedness,
the xenophobia,
the determination,
using might to make right
or at least to fulfill the agenda,
I kneel here, knowing
that no matter what,
you are with me.
And though it looks like
we are dwelling in
the valley of the shadow of death,
where bandits hide in ambush,
and darkness shelters those
who despise the truth,
and peace seems like such a dream,
you are the lamp
who is willing to guide each step I make,
until you bring me safely home.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Molech laughs
with each soul
ripped loose
from the dark, warm cradle
that should have been
a loving cushion
to wait out the months
in loving anticipation,
but instead
became
a crypt of flesh and blood
an altar
to self-interest,
panic,
lies told,
greed.
Who knows what darkness
prevented,
what joy interrrupted,
what good shattered
lies
in that little life
broken
beneath the wheel of
death poising as right,
murder
sheltered by the lie
of self-determination?
Who knows
what guilt and grief
are eaten
beneath the sterile lights
that claim all is well?
Molech laughs
with the laugh of the well fed,
filled with the murder
of life unfulfilled.
O Blessed Mother,
as you gather each little soul
close to you,
held under your mantle,
pray for us
that we might realize
the darkness trying to swallow us up,
and shed your son's light
on the lies told,
and break the chain
of death
presented as good.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
with each soul
ripped loose
from the dark, warm cradle
that should have been
a loving cushion
to wait out the months
in loving anticipation,
but instead
became
a crypt of flesh and blood
an altar
to self-interest,
panic,
lies told,
greed.
Who knows what darkness
prevented,
what joy interrrupted,
what good shattered
lies
in that little life
broken
beneath the wheel of
death poising as right,
murder
sheltered by the lie
of self-determination?
Who knows
what guilt and grief
are eaten
beneath the sterile lights
that claim all is well?
Molech laughs
with the laugh of the well fed,
filled with the murder
of life unfulfilled.
O Blessed Mother,
as you gather each little soul
close to you,
held under your mantle,
pray for us
that we might realize
the darkness trying to swallow us up,
and shed your son's light
on the lies told,
and break the chain
of death
presented as good.
Amen.
Susan E. Stone, 2004
