Saturday, November 14, 2020

The Rev. Rob Stevens

Curious

Do you have your “go-to” prayers, poems or quotes? When I am weary…and I’ll confess to some weariness right now I go back to my “go-to’s.” One of the gifts of our Christian tradition is that we can glean wisdom from those who have gone before us. One of the themes that many of my hero’s continually express is that of curiosity in the midst of uncertainty. Staying curious when everyone is trying to make the world black or white takes practice and discipline. It also allows us to hold onto humility (Thank you to Nicole for her helpful reflection on Humility). I have shared this prayer before and probably will again. It really has kept me grounded and hopeful in this time when I feel that losing hope and connection with the ground is so possible. I pray it often and offer it to you. There is a freedom that it gives that surpasses my understanding. I pray that we may stay curious.

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen.

- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"