A prayer for Lent – beauty for ashes
Here in this meeting place where many others have been before us,
we surrender ourselves to a stillness of Spirit – a stillness of mind and body
that connects us to the Eternal Spirit of God.
Even though it is beyond our complete understanding, there are many things which speak to us:
In times of stillness we hear it like a distant song;
There is something in the sky in the early morning and evening time,
something in the spirit of the wild untouched wood and mountain,
something in the faces of men and women and children.
that lingers in our heart and speaks to us.
Sometimes we can feel that round our incompleteness, flows a greatness,
and round our restlessness, a peace.
and in the brevity of our mortal life,
a sense of the Eternal.
We pray, that those broken in spirit discover glimpses of these moments and that they bring interludes of repose and comfort.
Help us to remember the power we each have to relieve one another of some of the burdens,
sorrows and troubles of this life.
And we pray that like rain falling on a thirsty land,
this meeting place and its community uplifts our own spirits.
In its ministry of consecration, meditation and reflected thought,
may we find help.
In its companionship and fellowship, may we find encouragement and strength.
In its quest for truth – find our truth,
And in its worship find inspiration.
May our hearts be warmed within as we talk with one another on the way.
And may such knowledge as we may gain of life`s deeper meaning enrich our lives giving us beauty for ashes and hope for all our tomorrows.
Amen
Adapted from the writing of Rev Denbigh Hilton ( Minister Hastings Unitarian Church1934 – 84)
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