Wonder and Awe

One of the resources that I am constantly looking for is liturgy/poetry/prayers that I might share in worship. I have several books that I really like including Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth by Walter Brueggemann which I highly recommend. I have also found a few blogs including one called [hold :: this space]. It is described by the author as, “the story of an alternative worship project in the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.”

I found the following poem there this morning and I’m thinking about reading it in worship tomorrow night during our prayer time. I think I found it especially moving given the topic of the Disciple Bible study class I facilitated yesterday where the key word was Wonder. I hope you find it meaningful for you today as well. If you know of any additional resources like the ones I mentioned above or if you yourself are in to writing prayers/poems/liturgy, I’d love to hear about it! Just leave me a comment. 

there are some moments
at which we should only look sideways
because to face them head on will blind us

moments where words like wonder
and awe
are completely inadequate;

where we search in vain for new words
as yet uninvented
to tell of the truth

moments where it seems impossible
that we will ever forget
how extraordinary,
how remarkable
this life is.

until we do

so in this moment,
when we stand blinded by fragility
and wonder
we pause

and for all those moments we forget,
we take a breath
and say

thank you.

Related posts:

1. “Contemporary” Worship
2. Wrapping up with Worship
3. Practicing Fixed-Hour prayer
4. Sermon series in 2009
5. The Christmas Spirit…

Tags: Poetry, Prayers

Category: Prayers