On Sunday,July 19th, during the first 15 minutes of Meeting for Worship, the children in our First Day School handed out paper and pencils to everyone in Meeting. We asked each person to write down his or her word for God.
It could be a single word or a collection of words. A phrase. A fragment. A more complete thought. It could be a thought on how you find God in the world, how you meet God, experience God, move closer to God; some image, word, memory that, when you dwell in it, you move deeper into a more complete understanding of what God is and how God manifests in your world.
The idea was given to us by our friend Charlie Morse and with his guidance, we composed a prayer for our Meeting, built out of those passages and words each person had written down.
Dawn Tripp
Prayer
What brings life brings more life --
wonders around us
and how do we fit
a song that we know before we have heard it
I feel the silence
in which I am thankful for
the branches and the sky behind them
snow, wind, birds
nature
the purring cat on a sun-soaked rock
patting my dog
the older dog
the eyes of the shepherd
good health, fresh air, loving friends and neighbors
the full moon rising over the ocean
the mystery, the deep,
the light in the face of a child
the joy in laughter,
waves, and gulls
my basil plants and my pesto in winter
songs of birds calling the day
food, flowers, helping, healing, teaching
art
my childrens' concerns
uncomplicated love
beauty,,joy, steadfast God, is good, God is great
sunshine, praise, the various moods of the ocean
the sun shining on you, God giving me love
the wonder of birth
to be awake
my passion and my name for God
meaningful relationship
creating peace
life in all its miracles
guided by the best of all good things
listen
silence is when we hear
when God is feeling in me I feel alone in a peaceful way
Dio