As I get my feet back under me after a week away, I thought I’d share with you a wonderful website of prayerful poems (or poetic prayers), updated daily by Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes. You can find more of these at unfoldinglight.net. Here is one based on the gospel reading for this Sunday.
There appeared a woman with a spirit
that had crippled her for eighteen years.
She was bent over
and was quite unable to stand up straight.
—Luke 13.11
Bowing, in a posture of subservience,
as if unequal, inferior.
Facing the floor, not the horizon,
the dirt, not the future.
Unable to look eye to eye,
intimately, on the level.
Familiar with pain,
her constant companion.
Unable to stand tall, take a stand,
look up, raise a hand.
Unable to embrace, to dance,
to work, to contribute.
Yet worthy, beloved,
gifted, wise and strong.
Not helpless, but patient,
trusting, accepting, and at peace.
Grace reshaped her spine
to match her heart.
Pastor Jen
PS – Thanks to Rev. Kim Hornung-Marcy and all who stepped in to lead last week’s service in my absence.