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Spiritual Directors International receives many prayers for the people and issues that create a concern and cry of the heart.
Please add your prayer as a comment to this post. Each month SDI will publish a blog post to cultivate compassion and prayer within our global learning community. This ongoing post replaces the "Prayers" blog category.
Henri Nouwen writes,
“There are as many ways to pray as there are moments in life. Sometimes we seek out a quiet spot and want to be alone, sometimes we look for a friend and want to be together. Sometimes we like a book, sometimes we prefer music. Sometimes we want to sing out with hundreds, sometimes only whisper with a few. Sometimes we want to say it with words, sometimes in deep silence. In all these moments, we gradually make our lives more of a prayer and we open our hands to be led by God even to places we would rather not go.”
In this time of world wide web connections, may our varied online prayers continue to cultivate compassion and connection.
Simply add your prayer or by clicking the link below. Your prayer or comment will post within 36 hours.
Peace ...
09/01,2010, at 11:22
A Contemplative life of spiritual direction (both as director and directee) reminds me I am not alone as I continue to discern how to live a life that calls for social justice with a loving spirit. Spiritual direction provides me with the space and time to step back, take a deep breath, and find the compassionate courage to work for that which is "just". Spiritual Direction is a reminder that there are shades of gray in the decision making. Spiritual direction encourages and helps to free me to live an authentic life. That is my prayer for all of humankind.
09/07,2010, at 18:35
My name is Pam, and I am a recovering Religious Fundamentalist. What is grace? I was taught little about grace when I was a child. I was taught to fear God, therefore I hid from God. I was taught that I must be 'good,' yet I knew early that I was never good 'enough.' I even held back from the communion table when I longed for communion with God, because I knew I was unworthy, and I believed I had to be 'worthy' in order to be in relationship with God. At a young age, I gave up being good enough for God. But I have come to believe that God's grace is the entirely unearned, undeserved outpouring of Love on me. Why does God do this? Because this kind of Love and drawing close is the nature of God. Finally, I understand the words, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound..." God's extravagant, unearned Love...for me! Grace - There is no shame in God... I think of Adam and Eve, trying to hide from God. I remember myself, trying to hide from God. Hiding my entire life, trying to be 'good enough' for other people and especially, for God. I imagine God gently, tenderly, and relentless searching for me and tenderly pulling me into God's heart, until I am settled there. And I "live and move and have my being" entirely within the heart of God. Today, it feels like God looks at me with Love, and doesn't look away, ever...no matter what I have done, or left un-done. That, to me, is grace.
09/21,2010, at 17:26
Prayer for a suicidal friend The wife of a friend is struggling with sexual identity and spiritual darkness. She sees herself as a monster and is deeply depressed. She made a suicide gesture last night. Please pray for her, her husband and friends. I am too close to the situation to offer counsel--I can only pray and trust and pray again... Thank you Jennifer
09/21,2010, at 19:07
@Pam. You've provided such an eloquent description of grace. I, too, was raised to think of God fearfully. I also thought that I was not good enough and never would be acceptable in his eyes. But isn't it a wonderful feeling to accept grace and believe that God's love is unconditional in spite of our human frailties? May God continue to bless you in your grace walk! @Jennifer. My heart goes out to your friend and her husband. I am familiar with that level of darkness. Her, her family and friends are in my prayers.
01/18,2011, at 03:37
I am a 63 years old Jewish woman, mother of three young men. My husband died two years ago, suddenly. In 10 days, I am leaving New York where my family and I lived during 12 years. I am French, I am going back to Paris, the place where I still have very close friends and one distant brother. My heart aches to leave my sons and move back to France, although my decision was based on the fact that I am not in very good health, I need medical care that I cannot afford in America and also I want my sons to grow up in dignity and become independent. I was seeing a spiritual director here in New York, who helped me tremendously. I hope to find one when I go to Paris. Difference of religion is not a barrier. I need a prayer to give me the strength to finish packing the only suitcase I am taking with a few clothes and official papers, to strengthen my faith in God and in the fact that it is safe for me to go live by myself, with very little money. I thank you very sincerely, Daničle
01/18,2011, at 23:26
Daniele, I honor your journey and offer this to you: Know that you travel with the angels. Imagine yourself enfolded in their wings as you pack and as you fly back to Paris. Trust that the oneness that connects us all will connect you with spiritual guidance. When you think of your sons, let the love in your heart fill them with light. Know that all is well in their world ... and yours. Peace.
01/19,2011, at 13:02
My prayer is for my beloved spiritual director. Her husband had a stroke while in surgery and she has been his loving bedside support. Her love and patience has blessed me SO greatly that I would simply ask for blessings on her and her husband as well.
01/19,2011, at 17:55
There is a desert wash across the street from where I work. Last week I saw a Red-tail Hawk in the tree in the wash and went over to say hello. I noticed tons of trash had washed into the area and caught on the trees. I have been picking up the trash each day a little at a time. This allows me to care for the area, the trees, the plants, the hawk and at the same time spend time outside. When I walked into my clinic today after picking up trash, my next client said, "You look well rested and peaceful. What have you been doing?" I said, "Picking up trash." So I guess at the moment this is my prayer and meditation.
01/24,2011, at 23:22
it has been a winter of tremendous loss. I am finding great comfort in prayers of simplicity, such as this one: May our broken hearts lead us back to wholeness.
02/01,2011, at 03:15
Karen, I just "happened" upon your post tonight. My heart is with you, and I join you in prayer as your heart seeks wholeness as you continue in this winter of loss. May you have a strong sense you do not go this journey alone.