An embodied prayer of the people, based on Job 38

#embodied #intergenerational #prayersofthepeople

Talking about suffering is tough. Like Job’s friends, we often want to respond with words of comfort and advice that may actually leave beloved friends and family feeling more isolated and inconsolable in the midst of dire circumstances. This prayer is woven around my belief that God speaks to us within the whirlwinds of whatever is devastating our reality, the whirlwinds of our emotional reactions to that pain and loss, and the whirlwinds of other voices that, while trying to be helpful, are too often exacerbating our hurt. 

Additional lines can be added to the simple and repetitive format according to your needs and local context. Pinwheels introduce a gentle and playful element into our very serious work of prayer and should be taken home as a symbol of God’s presence with and within us. Allow people time to blow on them slowly and mindfully, naming the needs that emerge in their minds and the pain that may be within their hearts. 

   

People blow on their pinwheels after each invocation of the Spirit to blow (at each asterisk).

While he lived on earth, anticipating death, Jesus cried out in pain and wept in sorrow as he offered up priestly prayers to God. Because he honoured God, God answered him. Though he was God’s Son, he learned trus:ng-obedience by what he suffered, just as we do.” (Heb. 5:7-9)

So we pray:

There are many storms in life, O God.
Our lives seem small and fragile.
We are afraid.
We have far more questions than we do faith
or solutions.
Too often, you feel far away.

Speak to us from within the whirlwind,
O Spirit-Wind, O Life’s-Breath.*

Into the devastation of war,
blow, Spirit, a blessing of mercy.*

Into the turmoil of violent relationships,
blow, Spirit, a blessing of courage.*

Into the silence of lonely hearts,
blow, Spirit, a blessing of connection.*

Into the grief of lost love,
blow, Spirit, a blessing of comfort.*

Into unanswered cries for change, blow, Spirit,
a blessing of unity.*

Within the whirlwinds in our lives,
blow, Spirit, blow.*