Monday, February 22, 2010

Edward Hays Lenten Prayer


From Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim, by Edward Hays:

I thank you, O God,
for the warming of the winds
that brings a melting of the snow,
for daylight hours that daily grow longer
and richer in the aroma of hope.
Spring lingers beneath the horizon
as approaching echoes of Easter
ring in my ears.

I lift up my heart to you, Beloved,
in this season of Lent
that gently sweeps across
my sluggish and sleeping heart,
awakening me
to a deeper love for you.

May the wind of the Spirit
that drove Jesus into the desert,
into the furnace of prayer,
also drive me with a passion
during the Lenten season
to enkindle the fire of my devotion
in the desert of Lenten love.

Birds above, on migratory wings,
signal to an inner migration,
a message that draws me homeward bound
on Spirit's wings
to the heart of my Beloved.

May I earnestly use this Lenten season
to answer the inner urge
to return.

2 comments:

Blue Eyed Ennis said...

Hi Roberta,
What a beautiful poem . The image fits the words perfectly and my spirit is uplifted which I badly need as I am getting bogged down with Lent today.
Godbless
Phil

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

Wow, that last stanza really clenched it for me.