direction, day 6

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:
God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.
~Sarum Primer, 16th century


Psalm for the Week: Psalm 17

Scripture for the Day: Jeremiah 18:1-6

Reading for Reflection:

To be a spiritual friend one must have detachment, discretion, and discernment, with all that prepares for those gifts.  Spiritual companionship is a gentle art, demanding a willingness to listen as if I had a third ear attuned to the inner self.  It is neither psychotherapy nor is it the sacrament of reconciliation.  Sometimes one needs to confront, but far more often the best form of intervention of the spiritual guide is parabolic language, nudging the friend into a new way of seeing.  The journey belongs to the other and that person’s uniqueness must be honored.

     The friend of the soul is an instrumental image.  Such a person is not to be a “buddy,” but someone who listens, comforts, and supports.  He or she serves as a hermeneut, which means that he or she is a means, not an end.  It is important for me not to think too highly of myself in this relationship, but to stand in awe of what God is doing in the life of the other person.  Often this requires me to get out of the way.  When in ignorance I have nothing to say, I must remain silent. (Spirituality for Ministry by Urban T. Holmes III)

 

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: All My Days
 

All my days I will sing this song of gladness
Give my praise to the Fountain of delights;
For in my helplessness You heard my cry,
And waves of mercy poured down on my life.

              
I will trust in the cross of my Redeemer,
I will sing of the blood that never fails;
Of sins forgiven, of conscience cleansed,
Of death defeated and life without end.

 

Beautiful Savior, Wonderful Counselor,
Clothed in majesty, Lord of history,
You’re the Way, the Truth, the Life.
Star of the Morning, glorious in holiness,
You’re the Risen One, heaven’s Champion,
And You reign, You reign over all!

 

I long to be where the praise is never-ending,
Yearn to dwell where the glory never fades
Where countless worshippers will share one song
And cries of ‘worthy’ will honor the Lamb!

 
Closing Prayer:
O heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray thee so to guide and govern us by thy Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget thee, but may remember that we are ever walking in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer)