prayer/poem: search me

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

    Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

    and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139:23-24

Give me courage, Spirit of the Living God, to hold this mirror to my soul and to see what lies within, with the boldness of unfettered eyes.

My biases -- my racism, my prejudice, my posture of privilege. Lord, have mercy.

My patterns -- of thought, word, deed. Those that lead to flourishing, may their branches be pruned, their soil watered and enlivened to bring continual thriving.  Those that lead to languishing -- may they be exposed for what they are, laid in sharp contrast to my eye, so that I can detect them and root them out. Deal with me kindly, and tenderly, Holy Spirit. May I receive with grace and discernment any revelations from you that may come from an encounter with another person.

The rich blessings of community, health, food that nourishes, a roof above my head and a soft, warm bed to take rest in, night after night -- may not one minute pass where these delights are dispelled as commonplace!

I open my heart, my hands, my eyes -- to see you, and thereby me, more fully in your luminosity.

Amen + amen.