A Simple Prayer From a Snowstorm

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Snowstorm

Divine Maker of Wind and Snow, who fills us with wonder and awe,
As we begin this day, use this blanket of white to erase any need for words. Bring us an assurance that your Presence is made real in the silent winter landscape. Help us to practice this trust in the interruption of our lives, today. Warm our hearts and widen our interiors as we breathe in the beauty of the snowfall. Rather than increasing our anxiety over our lack of control, let this time of quiet bring peace in our souls. Indeed, help us learn that even in when we perceive we are lacking, you provide all that truly satisfies. Amen.

Embody the Word

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Janet Salbert

Ancient Author, whose Word creates life and hope,
Our intent is to leave space on the page and time in our calendar to open ourselves to your living Presence. Yet, we are distracted by many things and pulled in many directions. Quiet us in this moment, wherever we may be. Remind us that a simple breath brings peace, a wordless moment allows us to listen. Bring to the surface a recovery of the word you have placed in our depths, with the sure knowledge that those around us are part of how you provide the very thing we desire most. Keep us this day, from ignoring those who complete the Living Word in us. Amen.

Simple Hope

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Future realities

Carrier of blessing, who meets us in both dreams and realities,
On this last day of the calendar year, rather than brooding about past failures or worrying about future actualities, quiet us to ponder the blessing in here and now. Help us to understand the only way to face our circumstances is to soak in your love, to open up to your mercy, to still ourselves long enough to be saturated with your goodness. We are all hungry for something, but only some of us need food. We all experience rejection but only some of us are truly alone. Increase our ability to become hospitable and kind to those who are left out. In the year ahead, make our dreams a reality and our realities distant dreams. Amen.

Breaking into Darkness

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Dwelling in

God-With-Us, whose living Presence is over, amongst and within us,
In the fullness of Christmastime, we find ourselves looking back, reveling in memories past. Remind us of the reality of your arrival, breaking into a world of deterioration and suffering in the face of dominating human powers, that we might trust your plan comes to us increasing real light, and truth and joy on earth. Usher us into a quiet resting place to savor a few moments of dwelling with you until we find ourselves dwelling in you. Bring to birth new hope for all that is ahead. Amen.

Shine Bright

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Gentle Rhythm of Life, who brings creation forth through a pause,
We confess our pace is frantic in this season, we are all strangers looking for a place to rest in unfamiliar surroundings. We don’t quite know where our journey is taking us. Slow our breathing in this moment. Hold us until we become quiet and aware of your Presence. Rather than being lost in the world, help us lose ourselves in you that we might be recreated, as you bring to birth the Word made flesh. The peace on earth we long for will shine bright when it happens first in us. Amen.

Respond with Thanksgiving

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Janet Salbert

glowinggrasses

Nurturing Mother,
who brings comfort to the lost, lonely and to the self-sufficient,
Our anxiety for the losses in our world has been high these last few weeks. Our questions bring us to our knees. Do you really know each hair on our head? Have you counted of every blade of grass? Slow us for a few hours so that we can count the grasses with you. Reposition our hearts and minds so that the world glows with life-giving mystery again. Rather than a moment of attending to your Presence, use as long as it takes to remind us that your creation is good and your wisdom is merciful and just. Make us people of prayer, saturated in your compassionate love to respond with thanksgiving for this life and the next. Amen.

Fresh Perspectives

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Janet Salbert

Beam of Blessing, who sends sparkles of light into every moment,
Our first morning breath, as we attend to the fullness of your Presence, gives us focus. Our hearts fill with gratitude by the way your creation nurtures us each day and yet, is often overlooked when there is much imperfection in our world. It is easy for us to find the broken branches, the shadows and woundedness in our midst. Help us to not only see from fresh perspectives but to act with renewed hope. Strengthen us to persevere and give us eyes of grace to see the beauty that is emerging in difficult places. 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.

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

Janet Salbert

Put Out Into the Deep

Category Archives: Uncategorized