From My Nature Journal: A Small Examen

I’ve written briefly before on the examen as a centuries-old, daily spiritual practice (see September 22, 2013 post). The examen, or examination of conscience, is a discipline whereby the follower of God takes intentional time, typically near the close of the day, to consider the manner in which they served and represented their God that day.

Recently I came across another excerpt from Church of Scotland minister Alistair Maclean’s Hebridean Altars, a lovely little fragment that can serve as a tiny examen for those so inclined. The Altars are a beautiful collection of Celtic Christian prayers and praises that Maclean compiled from oral and written tradition in his native Hebrides, an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. First published in 1937, it consists of over a hundred petitions, sayings and poems, along with brief commentary, and highlights the down-to-earth manner in which Celts expressed and lived their faith life. You’ll quickly notice why I find this little selection so appealing, and why I chose to share it on my nature blog.

When the shadows fall upon hill and glen:

and the bird-music is mute:

when the silken dark is a friend:

and the river sings to the stars:

ask thyself, brother,

ask thyself, sister,

the question you alone have power to answer --

O King and Saviour of all,

what is Thy gift to me?

and do I use it to Thy pleasing?

I love this. In similar fashion to the lyrics of the traditional hymn Day is Done, sung to the tune of Taps, it employs the circadian rhythms of nature as a jumping off place for daily spiritual reflection. In amazingly few words, the first lines completely and effectively draw one in to the mood of the night, and then challenge the thoughtful person to consider their personal condition with two simple questions: God, what are Your blessings in my life? And, Do I employ them for You?

What is Thy gift to me?

And do I use it to Thy pleasing?

One of these days I am going to share more thoroughly here on the examen, but for now, this charming text can get us there. Reflect on it tonight as God gives you opportunity, and consider passing this along to others who may find nature an important spiritual pathway.

~~ RGM September 26, 2016

P.S. Interestingly, I believe the compiler of Hebridean Altars was the father of the popular novelist of the same name who lived later in the 20^th Century. Remember The Guns of Navarone?

P.P.S. No extra charge: On the same page that the elder Maclean shares the above piece, he also includes this gem which can in like manner be used as a mini-examen: Take me often from the tumult of things into Thy presence. There show me what I am and what Thou hast purposed me to be. Then hide me from Thy tears.

Blowin’ in the Wind: A Prayer of Thanksgiving – On a Summer’s Day

("Blowin’ in the Wind" is a regular feature on my blog consisting of an assortment of nature writings – hymns, songs, excerpts, prayers, Bible readings, poems or other things – pieces I may not have written but that inspire me or give me joy. I trust they’ll do the same for you.)

Well, the summer is waning quickly, or, as Joni Mitchell sang, ‘…Summertime is fallin’ down and winter’s closin’ in.’ Before the season is officially gone I thought I’d share a lovely piece I ran across recently in a book of prayers. The book, entitled The Prayers of Peter Marshall, was compiled and prefaced by novelist Catherine Marshall, whose husband was a very popular pastor, as well as Chaplain of the U.S. Senate from 1947-49.

Peter Marshall was a Scottish Presbyterian clergyman who had emigrated pennilessly to the United States in 1927 as a 24-year-old, attended Columbia Theological Seminary, and served two churches in Georgia before being called to pastor the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. in 1937. Appointed by the Senate as Chaplain in late 1946, he was elected twice to the position, during which he continued to serve his church. He died suddenly of heart failure in late January of 1949 at the young age of 46.

Marshall’s prayers were simple and heart-spoken, of a homespun character, very rarely written down, many of them penned only by a faithful secretary who recorded them in shorthand. But they were a beloved part of worship in his churches, and appreciated in new ways by members of the Senate; previous chaplains’ prayers were filled with pretentious or pompous language that

tended to match that of the politicians themselves. The Prayers of Peter Marshall includes both a small collection of prayers from the churches he served as well as the complete collection of prayers spoken to open Senate sessions. 

Here is the prayer that caught my spirit a few days ago, one he prayed in church, and I share it in hopes that it will be as meaningful to you as it was to me. And, my goodness, if you can find the book, long OP, any of the prayers from those prayed in Senate Chambers would be appropriate for our ongoing intercession for our public leaders.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving – On a Summer’s Day

We give Thee thanks, Lord of heaven and earth, for the promise of summer, for the

beauty of this day – a day

            that shall ripen grain,

            that shall provide good things for the table,

            that shall make all growing things rejoice,

            that shall make more sweet the music of the birds,

            that shall make more beautiful the gardens which Thou hast

                        planted and watered.

We thank Thee for the fertility of the land that encourages us to sow and to plant. We thank Thee for the dependence of the seasons, for all Thy sustaining providence by which we work today and harvest tomorrow.

We well know, our Father, that we are not worthy of Thy bounty, but help us to be good stewards of that bounty. We thank Thee for the endless delight of our lives on this lovely earth. Amen.

~~ RGM, September 6, 2016

From My Nature Journal: Deep Peace – A Blessing in the Celtic Style

Much of my recent blog writing has been newer essays rather than ones written in the past. But these new writings come only as I receive them from God, and since I’ve not been inspired in the last month to write a fresh piece, my typical modus operandi when it comes time for a post is to look back on my older writing and see what catches my spirit as pertinent to today.

Wow, was I caught.

It is a highly stressful time for us. Just this week we’ve put our Colorado home on the market, and before next week is finished we’ll travel to Washington State to purchase a new home, though we know not where. Add to these the delight of a U-Pack move some time in the next two months, beginning to resettle somewhere, and all the regular responsibilities of life and work, all while we remain open to a new ministry call, and it becomes clear just why we are feeling the strain. Of course, we are constantly seeking to keep it all in perspective, knowing we are safely in God’s care, but the pressure still can build.

How glad I am that I went back to the well, all the way back to the third entry in my old leather journal, dated April 2008. At the time I was taking classes for a certificate in spiritual direction. As part of that experience we were assigned to attend a workshop on a related subject of our choice. Celtic spirituality had long been an interest, so, living in Omaha then, and seeing a workshop offered on that subject not too far away at the Sophia Retreat Center in Atchison, Kansas, I booked it and attended.

I enjoyed it very much. The presenter, after giving the history of the movement and highlighting its characteristics, challenged us to try writing some things in a more Celtic style. What is that style? I’ve blogged before on it, and you can take a look at this post or this one if you’d like to see, but suffice it for now to say that a couple of the characteristics of Celtic spirituality are the practice of giving and receiving blessings and of seeing God in creation. One afternoon while wandering the grounds, I wrote this blessing, "Deep Peace."

Peace to you, deep peace.

Peace of the morning sun to you, deep peace of the flowing brook.

Peace of the quiet forest to you, deep peace of the soft rain.

Peace of birdsong to you, deep peace of the whispering pine.

Peace of midday shade to you, deep peace of a gentle breeze.

Peace of the wave’s rhythms to you, deep peace of the sunset’s color.

Peace of moon’s whiteness to you, deep peace of the shining stars.

Peace to you, deep peace.

Peace of a child’s held hand to you, deep peace of a friend’s blessing.

Peace of a mother’s kiss to you, deep peace of a beloved’s embrace.

Peace of a clear conscience to you, deep peace of the Lord’s forgiveness.

Peace of holy discernment to you, deep peace of divine direction.

Peace of satisfying labor to you, deep peace of a job well done.

Peace of a cool drink to you, deep peace of an evening’s rest.

Deep peace of the love of God,

Deep peace of the presence of the Holy Spirit,

Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you this day, and every day.

Amen.

This blessing is an important gift to me today, this month, and this season of our lives. Just praying it through again these last couple of hours since ‘rediscovering’ it has helped bring a calmer standpoint in the midst of the frenetic activity and transitions that are before us.

I pray there is some greater reason than

my own need of it that God brought it

back to me to share with you today…

But I also pray there is some greater reason than my own need of it that God brought it back to me to share with you today.

Be at peace. Be blessed. 

RGM, August 24, 2016