Presence 11: The Lord's PrayerSample

During the pandemic, I found it difficult to know what to pray, so for obvious inspiration, I turned to the Bible and specifically to the story where Jesus responds to the question about how to pray. For many of us, the Lord’s prayer is very familiar; some will have recited it many times. During that period I would linger on a few lines or even just a single word of a phrase in the prayer and sit with it for a few days. It was amazing how doing so brought a depth and a richness that I hadn’t experienced before.

I have broken the prayer up into six days, to give us time to sit with it and let the prayer that Jesus taught us to unfurl before us.

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name.

Hallowed suggests to render sacred, to consecrate, to make holy.

As we sit now, I invite you to be still for a few moments, to be aware of our Father in heaven, and respectfully honour his name.

Pause

I asked Hanna Glover to write poems based on the themes we will explore over the next few days, this particular one is inspired by the word ‘Hallowed’. It also appears in the video which you may want to watch as a way to inspire your time and your reflections with God.

Hallowed

Hallowed be your name.

.

I find myself in the darkness,

Hands on the edge of abyss.

.

Hallowed be your name,

In my suffering-

You are the one who redeems

And turns my winter to spring.

.

Hallowed be the moments I sit with questions,

The moments I run and

The moments I wrestle.

.

Hallowed be the God who is not afraid

Of my doubts and fears

Who does not run

When I don't know what to say,

But takes my hand and leads me to the truth.

.

Hallowed be the words I pray

When I cannot find my own,

Give me today my daily bread

I whisper

Because I need you.

.

Help me forgive,

Because I cannot do it on my own.

Show me the way,

Because I cannot find it alone.

.

Hallowed be my father,

Who holds,

Who carries,

Who fights

And

Who loves.