Safe at Green Lake
By Arlin Buyert of Overland Park, KS, USA
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul… —Psalm 23:1–3 NRSV
Early morn
sitting near the dock
under the arms of an old oak,
I hear whispering waves
waft a psalm of peace
in a holy way.
She is like a window
looking deep into the earth,
a passage into my depths
covered with water
that runs free yet bounded
by rocky shores and unseen winds.
I hear the loon’s haunting wail,
see a swift sweep the surface,
feel the morning chill,
smell the cabin’s wood,
taste alone on my lip,
then one last sip.
Prayer for Peace
Sanctuary God, we feel safe beside your deep water. We reach our hand in…and pull it out. Your living water fills the space…there is no trace that we were there. But we remember—we have been with you. We are now different. We have known your peace and will share it.
Spiritual Practice: Deepening Roots
A tree with superficial roots will wither during drought, or severe storms may uproot it. A tree whose roots go deep is stable and draws from deep waters. Imagine yourself as a tree by a river or stream. Sense your roots extending deep into the earth in search of God’s Spirit. Reflect or pray about what you hope to find as your spirit searches for deeper identity in God.
Peace Covenant
Today, God, I will listen to whispers of peace and then speak them aloud in my actions.