By John Bonney of Springfield, Oregon, USA
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
We are glory-holding vessels—uniquely and elegantly made. We are complex creatures even though on the surface we may present as similarly bent and even placid. The roiling surf is not on the top of the waves but underneath, nearer the seabed. There in those depths do we find such a grand and colorful array of difference. Yet we deal on the surface because it is easier. It is beyond most of us to know what is stirring in the depths of each individual and holy being. It is holy, because everything created by the Holy is holy in itself.
If I rely on my eyes, I am lost. I am a weak and damaged vessel that cannot find my way through the fog. What is more important is that I listen—listen closely, listen fully. The night sky is alive with spinning stars, and if I listen I may hear the Holy. Individuals array the daytime and glow as much as the stars. But often I do not notice. I do not see it because of my near-sighted eyes. I do not smell it, touch it, or taste it, but it is there. It is the eternal and ever-pursuing presence of the Presence. Would I but stop and listen!
Is it possible then for me to carry that for which I listen beneath the shallow foam and into the fray? May the clear and refined night air calm the wave. May that which creates out of love and grace and blessing be noticeably present. May we go deep in the surf to the Presence.
Creator, help us go as deep as we can to know you and then appreciate the mystery of the rest. May our senses be keen and aware of your presence where you make yourself knowable. May we make ourselves present for others by the peace we share.
Prayer Phrase
“For by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:8).
Spiritual Practice
The Jesus Prayer of Mercy
The Jesus Prayer is an ancient spiritual practice from Orthodox Christianity. It is a way of connecting with the gracious Spirit of Christ as we ask to receive his mercy. The prayer comes from the scripture of the blind man calling Jesus to heal him. Silently enter prayer and let your breath become slow and even. Greet God and then take up the prayer phrase: Lord, Jesus Christ (as you breathe in) … have mercy on me (as you breathe out). Prayerfully repeat these words for several minutes (or forty times). Breathe the presence of Christ into your mind, heart, and body. Be transformed as you receive the compassionate, peaceful heart of Jesus.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.