Do we all know how to pray? Do I know how to pray if I want
to?
Long ago in childhood in sweet soft faith I could pray
easily to God to bless my family then hop into bed. A faith that I lost in early adolescence. Once that kind of faith is lost I don’t think
we can get it back.
Yet this morning I find myself wanting to say a simple
prayer. Perhaps just to the sky, which is softly striated green and grey with dawn.
Perhaps to the birds that are bright with trilling, chattering arcs and falls
of song. Ok then, I will pray to nature
in the way of my women.
Take my Uncle Jeff softly back to yourself. Once he was a
white-haired boy-child with all the sparky attitude of a younger son loved hard
and ready by his big brothers, loved by his parents. You were his parent too, and now he has died
and you may bring him home to you. His
body to blaze briefly like a star, his ash to fall and mingle with earth and
water. He is yours again, an elemental and beautiful thing, atoms borne aloft, ready
to become his star again.
I don’t know how to pray, but I bless him into rest, away
from pain. I bless him with love. I knew his story not nearly enough, but I
always felt his wonder and love at the family and children around him, his
pride to be part of it all.
Great mother and father, take this loving man and enfold him into love. Blessed be.
2 comments:
Such such a lovely heartfelt prayer.
such a moving tribute lily... your uncle would be well chuffed! his essence will live on in everything he knew and enjoyed, and your memories will always hold him dear...
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