Unto Whom All Hearts Are Open

This week, I think that a prayer is in order.  Say it out loud, reflect on it, even read it repeatedly, so that you may take it to "heart":

The pastor says, “Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open…”

We rush to the next phrase,

but now we linger there.

We ponder our hearts…

our deepest feelings of love and devotion,

our closest organ of vitality, 

our place of deep decision-making, 

our instrument of being fully ourselves.

Our hearts—that throb for contact with you—

our hearts are open.

They are not always open by choice, 

for we would like sometimes to

close our hearts and minds and hands.  

But they are open, because

our hearts cannot resist

your steady care and address.  

Our hearts are very open for you, very God.  

You are the One who has made us so that 

our hearts are restless

till they rest in you.

Do your mysterious, majestic God-ing

with our hearts:

reclaim,

renew,

re-enliven,

that we may leave your presence

in the lives of others.

- adapted from Walter Brueggemann’s Prayers for a Privileged People

Yours,

Rev. Denny Read