Welcome to Tuesday, when we pause to say Wow, to praise.
The Sarum Prayer
God be in my head—and in my understanding
God be in my eyes—and in my looking
God be in my mouth—and in my speaking
God be in my heart—and in my thinking
God be at my end—and at my departing
The Creation Praises
from Psalm 148 (Robert Alter Translation)
Praise the Lord from the earth.
Sea monsters and all you deeps.
Fire and hail, snow and smoke,
Storm wind that performs His command,
The mountains and all hills,
Fruit trees and all cedars,
Wild beasts and all cattle,
Crawling things and winged birds,
Kings of the earth and all nations,
Princes and all leaders of earth,
Young men and also maidens,
Elders together with lads,
Let them praise the Lord’s name
“It is not becoming to humanity that I remain silent while birds chant praises”—Saadi, 1265 (Persian Poet)
Reflection: When it comes to praising God, we may find ourselves in the mental brambles. Why does God want to be praised, is he an egomaniac? What do I praise God for—the good and the bad? Besides I don’t feel very good at it. I feel self-conscious, my singing voice isn’t ready for prime time, not to mention all the manipulation that happens in groups around the idea of praising God. Alas! Perhaps I’m overthinking it.
What if we started instead by focusing on those with whom we share the planet (rather than ourselves)—the other-than-human creatures who seem to praise so unselfconsciously. This is the approach of Psalm 148.
In his new book, Becoming Wild, Carl Safina writes of birds and other creatures who have sophisticated cultures—who have to learn from others how to become wild. He says birds vocalize to send alarms and warnings to other birds, and that these sounds can easily be distinguished from singing. Safina says birds sing for many of the reasons humans sing: to announce themselves, to feel connected to others, and as a form of delight. So we might ask: Delight in whom, in what? Themselves? The World? Whatever the world is nestled in beyond the world? That’s the mystery. We could ask them, but first we’d have to learn their language, which begins with listening. If you have access to some birds singing, take some time (now or later) to listen to whose chanting filled the world long before arrived, understanding that the birds really are singing.
Prayer for Wisdom & Justice
O Divine Wisdom, who dwells within the holy of holies, and whose light shines through all things created, fill our hearts, O blessed One, with the hope of a blessed future. Make all things new, return wrong to right, and cause us to walk in the ways of justice without which there can be no peace. Amen.
Prayer for Loved Ones
Over the next minute simply name your loved ones, calling each to mind in love, lifting each in the embrace of remembered love, to the God who is the source of all being.
Pause for Gratitude
Identify three things, big or small, ordinary or extraordinary, that you could be thankful for. Pause for the next half minute to name and consider them.
Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Benediction
So have a blessed day, go in peace, wash your hands, love your neighbor: you are not alone.