As I was saying Morning Prayer this morning (well don't lean too heavily on the literality of the Morning part - I was kinda busy) I was reminded how good it is to have this stuff- these well worn words. These well prayed words.
Perhaps that is why I tend to go back to the older versions of liturgy if I have my choice - they feel well "prayed in" - the thought of centuries of Christian voices saying the same words which I now say has a resonance which takes me beyond myself and today.
Sometimes we just need to be carried by things - I am going through waves of that right now - and the words of the daily office carried me. What was better was that I was saying out of the book and not using the computer version - feeling the binding, turning the pages, these ancient acts, these acts of today.
Even if I lose track of the words - and I sometimes do - I know that they are prayed and getting each syllable each time is not the point the the exercise. Making space for God is. It is not that same pressure as Sunday public worship where chaos ensues if things start going strange - no the daily office in most places, even those where it is very formal, seems to me to be something more organic, something which can pause and allow - it is not pushing through to a great point of consecration - it is simply considering, offering, praying.
So, like comfortable old shoes, I slide into the words. I am grateful for them and I love the God who allows these meadows of wonder. wonder of poetry and wonder of contemplation.
O Lord open thou our lips,
That our mouths (may indeed) shew forth thy praise.
No comments:
Post a Comment