Vineyard Song
Katherine Keck Bear
Reprinted from “Poetic Voices of the Restoration,” Saints’ Herald, January 5, 1953
Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55:6-9
Drudgery lay deep
In a sodden field
And the long day
Stood unconquered,
Dumb.
How shall I bend my puny back
To break these unyielding clods?
How to use ten fingers
And only two feet pushing
Against immensity…
My short-sight eyes, my brain
The scrap of Holy Spirit
In my soul,
With only these tools
How can I force the deadness
Of my sleeping field
To life?
“Take my yoke,” the answer came,
“Make broad your shoulders
With this thing of wood,
And hang your heavy
Seed sacks
At its ends.
Make free your hands,
Give rhythm to your marching feet,
Release the bursting song
That is your soul.”
For the lord of the vineyard
Heard my unworded prayer.
Prayer Phrase
I surrender into your love.
Spiritual Practice
Centering Prayer
Set a timer for 20 minutes. (If that feels like too much at first, choose a time that will be comfortable for you as a starting place, committing to expand that time in future prayer.) Allow the rhythm of your breath to draw you deeper and deeper into silence. As you breathe, claim one sacred word (Christ, peace, grace, trust, etc.) emerging in you as an anchor to return you to the intention of your prayer when your thoughts begin to wander. Gently release the thoughts and images that come, making space for presence to the One who is with you here and now. Release, return, “be vulnerable to divine grace” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:10b).
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
