Prayer Request

Source: nonstopministry.com
Teach us to pray, Lord,
as you taught the stars,
calm, lucid concentrations,
perfectly at peace with night.

Teach us to pray, Lord,
as you taught the trees,
firm and fearless, forever exposed
to the deluded axe
swung against the strength of wisdom.

Teach us to pray, Lord,
as you taught the snake,
silently charged by sun,
always in touch with earth
along the full length of her body.

Teach us to pray, Lord,
as you taught the child,
devotee of play
quick to worship wonder
with timeless attention,
building inner worlds outside.

Teach us to pray, Lord,
as you taught yourself,
alone in the wilderness,
harassed by doubt
and holding ground,
served by beast and angel,
serving, in turn, the fraternity
that runs between.

Teach us to pray, Lord,
as you taught the earth,
who teaches still,
who loves out of fullness
and weeps out of hope.

Greg Kennedy, SJ works as a spiritual director at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph, Ontario. He is author of Reupholstered Psalms volumes I, II, and III; and Amazing Friendships between Animals and Saints (Novalis Press).

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9 Comments
  • Peggy Spencer
    Posted at 01:59h, 21 May Reply

    That is a beautiful prayer in itself – asking the Lord to teach us to pray.

  • Joan Levy Earle
    Posted at 05:21h, 21 May Reply

    Your best poem ever! Thank you so much.

    • darcy Mann
      Posted at 09:14h, 21 May Reply

      Yes. I enjoyed that poem too Joan..

  • Wendy McCreath
    Posted at 08:08h, 21 May Reply

    I pray for the success of the orchard regeneration project at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre in Guelph. Bountiful fruit and nut trees, sustainably grown, will provide much-needed food for the community in the future. If you have a willing heart and a strong body, volunteer to help this venture.

  • Sharon Walters
    Posted at 08:48h, 21 May Reply

    Your best poem/prayer ever!

  • Peter Bisson, SJ
    Posted at 10:04h, 21 May Reply

    Thank you Greg!

  • Ken Maclennan
    Posted at 15:43h, 21 May Reply

    Thank you, Greg.

  • Ken Maclennan
    Posted at 15:44h, 21 May Reply

    Thank you, Greg. 9

  • Charles Pottie-Pâté, sj
    Posted at 11:08h, 22 May Reply

    Well done, Greg! thank you. Very inspiring prayer to learn to pray…..

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