God to enfold me, God to surround me, God in my speaking, God in my thinking, God in my sleeping, God in my waking, God in my watching, God in my hoping, God in my life, God in my lips, God in my soul, God in my heart, God in my sufficing, God in my slumber, God in mine ever-living soul, God in mine eternity.
Celtic Prayer
As I write from our kitchen table, a white spotted doe is grazing not but 10 feet beyond our glass door. Her fur is ruffled and nose is black. She immediately noticed me, but clearly I am no threat to her. Afterall this is Lancaster. Jessica and I were once walking through a neighborhood when we witnessed three deer staring at someone’s backyard shed as if they were waiting on someone who was late for an important appointment. They were. Sure enough someone came out of the house, talked to the deer as if they were their own children waiting for dinner, and they placed three separate bowls on the ground for them to eat from.
I know the risks of having so many deer in town. My eyes constantly scan for deer crossings, especially at night. But I can’t help but find joy in harmonious living. When one life takes care of another. When the divide between human world and created world is proven false. When God’s grace is made visible through kindness and compassion. The grazing deer is God in my life. The person caring for creation is God in my hoping.
This Celtic prayer speaks to a God that is in it with us and all it takes is for us to invite God to be a part of it. God in my sleeping. God in my waking. God in my lips. It’s a powerful reminder to let God in.
If you could add onto this list, what would it be? God in my worry? God in my joy? God in my frustration? God in my grief? If you pause for a moment to pray, the Spirit will guide you. Where do you need to invite God in?
The wonderful and amazing thing is, once you invite God in, it becomes clear that God has been there all along, but now you know it to be true. You know it to be the steadfast love of God. So I invite you to pray aloud the prayer above, but this time include your own prayers and believe it to be so.
