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One Word Prayers by Peter Menkin
by Peter Menkin Prayer to Aid in the Darkness There is darkness in my mind, what I've called "the crocodile brain" part. A living darkness, ancient and primitive. I live with this part of me. A teacher says that while traveling, and I say, too, for help with the darkness, short prayers. Taught that a prayer can be like an arrow, it is also a balm and a solution, a civilizing act, a way to goodness. An arrow to heaven. O Lord, come to my assistance. At Easter time we rejoice for there is a promise, a certain gift and redemption in the risen Christ. The wonderful prayer in "The Book of Common Prayer" that says, "We bless you for our creation, preservation,/and all the blessings of this life;/but above all for your immeasurable love/in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ..." by Peter Menkin One word prayers were what I practiced on the drive home, trying on the way to see in the night towards San Francisco where a purple glow in the sky distinguished the unseen cityscape, and to the north, metal towers lit with red warning lights, for airplanes to note in the darkness. I was told by a teacher, short prayers are good while travelling. On the way, the Church prays as it goes and its members do so also. Surprise, interruption there is peace in the evening; as a seeker of God, lover of Christ, I know the distracting onslought of inner conversation-- ancient enemies that wait in the darkness of the hour in ones mind, like the crocodile brain deep inside. Accept the suffering, and live to God's presence: my short prayer is "Abba," I cry. Audio reading of the poem by the poet is here: http://www.archive.org/details/OneWordPrayersByPeterMenkin Peter Menkin, an aspiring poet, lives in Mill Valley, CA USA where he writes poetry. He is an Oblate of Immaculate Heart Hermitage, Big Sur, CA and that means he is a Camaldoli Benedictine. He is 64 years of age as of 2010. Copyright Peter Menkin http://www.petermenkin.blogspot.com Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |