Celtic forms of prayer ruin me, in their poetry and wisdom and truth and simplicity.
Here’s one that I will pray as the blessing over a party that we’re having today at our house:
I saw a stranger yestereen,
I put food in the eating place
drink in the drinking place
music in the listening place
and in the sacred names of the Holy Trinity,
he blessed my house,
my cattle and my dear ones,
and the lark sang her song
often, often, often
goes the Christ in a strangers guise,
often, often, often
goes the Christ in the strangers guise.
Lovely, no?
The Celts who first prayed this prayer realized that the presence of God wasn’t a distant and abstract thing. God could be noticed in the everyday – in the wind and waves, the storm and sea. In friends and visitors alike.
And the voice of God just might be the lark’s song.
Not only is this beautiful… but what a beautiful thing it is to pray over a gathering…
pat,
ran across your blog accidentally. Have you heard of the recent gathering near Tacoma to talk about initiating a missional order? We had two brothers from existing orders join us, including Pete Askew from Northumbria.
peace
len
wilsonian – thanks!
Len – good to see you here; I've been reading you for years :).
I did hear about that gathering, and was really hoping to join in the fun. But I couldn't get out of work for that long.
But safe to say, I'm in that same head-space, and trying to figure out the same things you all are. My prayers are with you!
I've been reading Brother Maynard's blog entries after the gathering. Sounds like it was fruitful.
Moving.. Pat, I've added a link to your site. Appreciate what you are about and glad to discover a fellow pilgrim..