Psalm 19: 1-6 Common English Bible
19 Heaven is declaring God’s glory;
the sky is proclaiming his handiwork.
2 One day gushes the news to the next,
and one night informs another what needs to be known.
3 Of course, there’s no speech, no words—
their voices can’t be heard—
4 but their sound[a] extends throughout the world;
their words reach the ends of the earth.
God has made a tent in heaven for the sun.
5 The sun is like a groom
coming out of his honeymoon suite;
like a warrior, it thrills at running its course.
6 It rises in one end of the sky;
its circuit is complete at the other.
Nothing escapes its heat.
Reflection from Prayer Team Member – Laura Neal
I have always felt a connection to nature and I hear people speaking more and more of how important going outside has been during the pandemic. As a contemplative, I am practiced in silence and, the more I practice, the more I crave it. Yet I have come to realize, silence is not always stillness. The scripture tells us that the rhythm of nature is constantly in motion. And I am continuously enraptured by it! Who can’t resist a full moon or a stunning sunset. And when the sky is so dark and clear you can see the cosmos and get swept up in wonder. Not a wonder that needs answers. A wonder that is like a child’s, bringing nothing but joy in the simple pleasure of imagination. How often I get swept away in the wordless beauty that penetrates, and calms, even the most frantic chatter in my head.
The steadfastness of earths rhythm reminds me that the sun shines even on this gray, rainy day.
So how do I lean into the rhythm of silence when I am in the presence of others? Amnesty International did an experiment: refugees and Europeans sat across from each other and looked each other in the eyes for 4 minutes, in silence. The result: people from different continents who have literally never set eyes on each other before come away feeling amazing connections (you can see the video here). Tears flowed. Smiles beamed. Two people fell in love right then and there. That is the power of opening our souls and bearing our wordless “heat” of love upon the world. The sun, it shines on everyone. No discrimination. The rain, it falls on everything. No discrimination. Let our open-hearted, wordless love thrillingly extend to everyone. No discrimination.
Lie down by the river and let it wash away
the debris of your thinking,
and leave your rough edges smooth as the stone
over which it flows.
Feel the warmth of Mother Earth as you spoon
together on the ground of all being and no being,
just the same.
Let your soul’s song be carried on the breath of wind,
joining the joy of cardinals.
Let the grassy tendrils of your Lover caress and tickle
your thighs, bringing giggles and trembling
to your lips.
Join! Join the cosmos’ unending rhythm of rapture
and steep in Spirits starry stillness,
until It is all you hear.