About Janet Salbert

Always becoming a listener for God.

A Simple Prayer for our Work

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Holy God, who courses beside us every hour,
Draw us toward the light of your Presence as we delve into the details our our work this day. Move us from one grateful thought to another for all that you provide. Like the squirrels outside our windows, flirting from one golden tree to the next, release any fixation we have on our ideas or opinions so that love may flow freely upon our sisters and brothers amongst us. As the day begins to fade into evening, help us to carry home the tender ways your fullness is being revealed, sustaining us in the dark and accompanying our rest. Amen.

World Aglow

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Mysterious Treasure, who beckons us to draw near,
We start this day noticing the world aglow with light and life, taking it in with each breath. Filled with renewed divine energy, we can offer the world what is needed rather than reacting to the despair around us. Slow our rushing to allow your transforming work to happen in us. Your Presence unites us with a diversity of companions surprised by hope in our one human family. This day is a gift and no matter what our circumstances, we rejoice in all it’s possibilities. Amen.

Persevering in Trust

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Indwelling Spirit, whose energy renews life,
We admit that sometimes we avoid the silence, we hold our breath gasping at the trouble we see in our world. Steady our souls to spend time in your Presence. Help us to take one breath at a time. Rather than holding so tightly in our attempts to maintain the past, release even our rational fears and forget our problem solving and planning. Move our hearts forward in trust to find what is needed most is already in front of us, within us and beside us. Open us to receive your Living Presence so that we can willingly enter your reworking of creation. May all that emerges in our community life be evidence of the perseverance of your Spirit alive in us all. Amen.

Are Not the Flowers the Stars of the Earth?

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Creator of Wonder, who immerses us in the beauty of the earth,
As the stars fade in the morning light, flowers illuminate our view, and we greet the new day finding your fullness in it. Make each breath a taking in of the gift of your Presence. Slow us to savor the richness around us. Our anxiety over our circumstances is relieved when we accept that what you provide is enough, perhaps far more than we deserve. Day after day, we receive your goodness. Under canopies of stars and amongst paths lined with flowers, turn us into wide-eyed lovers, eagerly anticipating deeper connection with You and all the earth. Amen.

Potential for Grace

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Giver of Patience, who waits tirelessly for our response,
We live in a world that overlooks and rejects too many, while you are the One who makes us acceptable. We pause midday to take a chance and sit with you. Use the slowing of the crickets, the drifting clouds in the clear sky and perhaps, something like this tire swing to remind us to attend to your Presence. Inspire us by your Spirit nudging us toward taking actions that bring wholeness. Let us be moved by the flow of your mercy and grace. Refresh us with both the exhilaration of new possibilities and a full sense of trust in our sacred connectedness with others. Deepen our experience of this day, as we wait with you and beside you for a new season to arrive. Amen.

Sustaining Community

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Generous Vine, who ripens her fruit through seasons of sunshine and rain,
Let us rest in your Presence for a time. Perhaps, we do this day after day without much happening at all. Bring us to an awareness of all that is ripening in our lives and then to notice the same richness in the lives of those around us. Help us to be patient for each branch to come to maturity. Then, gather us in full of your grace to a good work which furthers the nurture and sustaining of whole communities. Amen.

To learn more about a sustainable campus in Honduras, please visit The Leadership Center at http://www.artforhumanity.org

Divine Cathedra

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Janet Salbert

King of Heaven and Earth, who waits and weathers out the storms with us,
Use our silence this morning preparing us to make space for relationship. Help us to see the many ways we try to escape rather than stay in the place that provides us a further encounter with you. Somewhere in the course of our day, guide us to encourage another to take respite in your Presence. Then, may we sit together at the throne of creation in wonder of that which makes us whole. Amen.

Standing Ready

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Protector of Life, who watches over our days,
In the morning silence, we face our uncertainties, finding your Presence standing guard. You quiet our fears with simple compassion. You strengthen us to live in our truth again and again. You never promised that acting on faith would be easy, you did promise that nothing can separate us from your love. And so we ask today as we watch for your faithfulness: make us like you, standing ready to pour out grace where there is need. Amen.

Living Hearts

Posted on August 19, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Wisdom of the Ages, whose desire is fullness of life,
Enlighten our hearts with your Presence. As we become aware of our breath and pulse, unify our bodies and souls. It is awesome to consider the vast expression of human vibration. It is beyond our comprehension how granite mountains can be so still and yet so alive. Even a single drop of water can carve a stone. And when we stand before the mystery of death, compassion overflows and somehow life arises from despair. You make all things possible through your transforming Love. Amen.

Delicate Strength

Posted on August 12, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Weaver of Life, whose simple designs create spaces of wonder,
We return to our homes this evening grateful to have experienced the tension, the fragility and the brilliance of the threads that have made up this day. Even when we have wanted to go in one direction, you gently turned us toward another direction in life-giving ways. Remind us not to enclose ourselves too tightly and miss moving toward the edges that enable us to increase our trust in the wisdom of your plan. Grant us rest in the delicate strength of your loving Presence this night. Amen.

Janet Salbert

Put Out Into the Deep

Author Archives: Janet Salbert