prayer for earth day

Posted on April 19, 2018 by - Uncategorized

prayer for earth day

“The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.” Isaiah 14:7

“Midst the falling leaves of old-time faiths, above the frozen crust of creed and dogma, the divine Mind-force, filling all space and having all power, upheaves the earth. In sacred solitude divine Science evolved nature as thought, and thought as things. This supreme potential Principle reigns in the realm of the real, and is “God with us,” the I AM.
As mortals awake from their dream of material sensation, this adorable, all-inclusive God, and all earth’s hieroglyphics of Love, are understood; and infinite Mind is seen kindling the stars, rolling the worlds, reflecting all space and Life, - but not life in matter. Wisely governing, informing the universe, this Mind is Truth, -  not laws of matter. Infinitely just, merciful, and wise, this Mind is Love, - but not fallible love” Miscellaneous Writings, MB Eddy

on this earth day
this day on earth
let the waters
that flow through me
the waters of my thoughts
heart
hands
feet
be rivers
of kindness
washing
spilling
overflowing
anointing
perpetual praise

may this ground
of my heart
my thoughts
never be hardened
to growth
ever patient
inadvertently joyful
living to give

may the air
of my heart, my thoughts
be breath
sweet
clean
gentle
purifying:
antidote to bitterness, fear and greed

may this ocean
of my heart
my thoughts
be bottomless refuge
of assurance-
give way
to tiny fingers,
carry without effort
the largest load

may the skies within me,
heart and thought,
be tireless dispellers of the dark-
each impartial
borderless glance of light shining the
earth into sharp relief-release:
the whole world, earth, universe, each,
tenderly held in divine Love’s infinite hands

joni overton-jung

choosing the good part

Posted on October 2, 2017 by - Uncategorized

are you careful
and troubled
about many things?

one thing
one thing alone
is needful

seek God first*
this can’t be taken from you

let your ministrations
be by angels

tending to your hands
your heart
your every thought

every task
a benediction
every action
reflecting Love

—Joni Overton-Jung

*See Matthew 6:33

published in the Christian Science Sentinel

you belong

Posted on August 12, 2011 by - Uncategorized

i was sitting in church the other night

it was time for silent prayer

and then time to pray the Lord’s prayer

i found myself listening the prayer

feeling the prayer

instead of speaking the prayer so quietly out loud

Our Father…

our

Father

everyone’s Father

all of us here

which art in heaven

we are in heaven

hallowed be Thy name

hallowed by Thy name

cherished, hallowed, holy, adored

suddenly

a phrase began to insert itself

“you belong”

it was quiet but insistent

“you belong”

“you all belong”

“you belong”

and i was whisked back to dinner

when my dear dear friend

said to me

“sometimes i don’t know where i belong

where do i belong?”

and the prayer just kept going

as if it was a prayer for her

“you belong

you belong

in heaven

but not out there

in heaven

held here

this kingdom come

Thy kingdom come

your kingdom come

within

without

placed

held

with your own

so goodness you

ours

belonging

reverenced

cherished

adored

amen

amen

amen

amen”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pilgrim on earth, home and heaven are within thee,
Heir of the ages and child of the day.
Cared for, watched over, beloved and protected,
Walk thou with courage each step of the way. (Christian Science Hymnal P.M.)

Pilgrim on earth, thy home is heaven; stranger, thou art the guest of God. Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy

here…locate!

Posted on August 26, 2010 by - Uncategorized

the trout run is early this year.

the taste of autumn in the air.

all too beautiful for words.

but words will have to do, as long as we leave enough space in between them for the air to speak.

the Ganaraska River is filled with trout swimming upstream, making their way from Lake Ontario, up through town, over the rocks, past the fisherman.  impasse after impasse, there’s no stopping them.

come on they say,

come,

get to the task.

the way is straight and narrow.

come:

find infinity

^^^^^^^^

i love this poem by Godfrey John:

Locate!

(Isaiah 54:2; Judges 18:10)

Where?

Here!

Friend, look close:

beneath your feet

is holy ground.

Under all questions

the heart longs

for a people, a place

in the morning light.

Where?

Here!

Look again:

place is community,

is one

whatever lies bright

in each of us.

Now under your hand

a purpose springs.

For place is prayer

in the wilderness.

As you walk the wastes

anywhere,

Love wills in you a sweet land . . .

let love go out of you left and right;

let each secret prayer embrace

the people in you, the desolate.

Place is the practice:

here locate!

*Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes…Isaiah 54:2

*When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth. Judges 18:10

“enter into the heart of prayer…”

Posted on May 20, 2010 by - Uncategorized

to be washed, to be clean, to be seen,

to be stripped free, unconstrained,

born new, born again, borne of no time

enter here

this heart of prayer

sanctuary: you and God

resplendent silence

drenched in light

a sea of stillness

you remember

belonging

unadulterated knowing

spaces of certain plenty

innocence

promises that will

never grow old

*”To enter into the heart of prayer, the door of the erring senses must be closed. Lips must be mute and materialism silent, that man may have audience with Spirit, the divine Principle, Love, which destroys all error.”  Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy