By José Blanco

 I came across this prayer three days ago. Don't ask me how or where. 

But I read it and it felt...soft, so good. Not asking as a to-do would, or a 'must', or a 'should': it just showed itself and asked nothing, no thing of me. 

In that, it was a wonder. I knew immediately this was a 'keeper'. But, for what?

No answer, of course. Dumb question.

The author of the writing is Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, and this was in the website of Polly Castor, https://pollycastor.com/2023/03/12/on-prayer-poem-by-rosemerry-wahtola-trommer/

Recognition to them both - thank you for this gift!

So here it is:  “On Prayer”:

Today prayer is the silence
in the snow-deep meadow.
It’s the gurgle of the ice-choked river
that cannot be heard unless
I am completely still. Today,
prayer is not to, it’s not for,
it’s something I am
more than something I do.
Prayer is even the sound
of the logging trucks on the highway
as they brake rounding the corner.
It’s the rapid shush, shush, shush
of my skis in the track as I climb the hill.
It’s the sizzle of onions in the oil.
It’s the hitch in my breath before I cry.
I’m astonished, today, to find
there is nothing that isn’t prayer
when I am aware it’s an invitation
to be completely here, to open;
it’s a call to meet it all
with the love that asks nothing from me
except that I give it and receive it.
Every single thing can be prayer.
Even the siren blaring by.
Even my own familiar voice
as I listen into the silences
for whatever words come next.

by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Phrases that 'hit', that slapped, that called for recognition as I was reading, as I have re-read, and hopefully, as I re-read them in the days ahead:

Today prayer is the silence...that cannot be heard unless I am completely still.
Today, prayer is not to, it’s not for,... 
It’s something I am...


...to find there is nothing that isn’t prayer when I am aware...


It’s an invitation to be completely here, to open; ...a call to meet it all
...
with the love that asks nothing from me...
except that I give it and receive it. (And I add...
- "except that I receive it...and then give it"!)

Every single thing can be prayer.
-as I listen into the silences...
for whatever words come next.

 Wow! Táquiti! Yes!!! Thank you!!!
PS: My gratitude to Rosemerry and to Polly: thank you! 




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