LEMA SABACHTHANI?

The lonely question,
the only question,
the unanswered question,
the most powerful question:
“Lema sabachthani?”

Lord, Lord, how many times
have you cried those words to me?*

*Cf. Matthew 27:46;

Mark 15:34;

Psalm 22:1
© Andy Costello, Prayers, 2009

PEACE IN THE VALLEY

Peace in the valley….
Lord, let there be
peace in the valley,
peace in this valley called me.

Peace in the valley….

Lord, rain down your living waters,
waters sinking deep into the ground of
my being, deep into the soil of my soul.

Peace in the valley….
Lord, lead me to accept my rocks
and hard places, my thorns and my thistles,
but work with me to cultivate the most of me.

Peace in the valley….
Lord, may my wheat fields flourish,
may my grapes be plentiful,
thirty, sixty and a hundredfold.

© Andy Costello, Prayers, 2009

WEARINESS

We all have our weariness
and needs we cannot name.

At times we’re antsy, angry, uneasy,
unsure of just what to say or do.

But if we open our ear, we might hear,
“Be still and know that I AM God!”*

Be still and know that I AM near.
Be still and know that I AM here.

*Cf. Psalm 46:10

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009

THE COLOR RED

God, you are fire,
red burning SUN,
mile high waves of fire
crashing, splashing,
splitting atoms,
cascading molten geysers of fire
erupting from your center,
up and out into our universe.

God, you are BLOOD,
silent rivers of red liquid,
ever flowing, ever moving
through my body,
constantly moving to
and from my center,
my heart and back again
and again and again.

God, you are red,
red redeeming FIRE,
purging me, warming me.
Without you I can do nothing.
God, you are red,
red redeeming blood,
with you, we can make
the impossible, possible. Amen.

© Andy Costello, Prayers, 2009

PARENTS PRAYER
FOR PATIENCE

Lord, I’m impatient with being impatient.
I’m impatient praying for patience.
Lord, please, listen to this impatient prayer
from this very impatient parent.

I need more gentleness, more forgiveness, more listening,
more understanding of others as well as myself.
I need patience, patience with others, especially the kids.
Help me to count to 10, or better 100, before I scream?
Help my kids and help me to hear the love behind my yelling.
Help them to know I’m trying to do what’s best for them,
especially when I nag them about neatness and homework,
about whom they date and how late they get home.
Help them to see that I don’t want them to get hurt –
better, that they make good moves and smart decisions,
especially when they are impatient and hard on themselves,
especially when they compare themselves to those
they think are smarter, quicker, better or what have you,
compared to me, compared to You, O Lord.

And Lord, hurry up and answer my prayer. Amen.

© Andy Costello, Prayers, 2009

AFTER DINNER SPEECH

I know, you expected more from me.
At least that’s what you said.
I’m sorry if I disappointed you.
I needed to relax tonight,
to be quiet tonight,
to be me tonight.
And to be honest,
I simply enjoyed our meal together.
I enjoyed the small talk
as much as the veal parmesan,
the bread and the wine.
And this might sound like psychobabble,
but I was me tonight, no roles, no show,
just me enjoying a good meal with you.
Thanks for these moments together.
Now when are we going to do this again?

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

&

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

I was ashamed
and you didn’t get nervous.
You listened
and I finally cried.
I laughed
and you wondered --
but you kept on listening
till we both got the joke.
You were slowly
letting me in on my mystery.

It came in glimpses and snatches,
snapshots from my life,
pictures I didn’t know I took,
scenes I didn’t want to look at.

There were mistakes,
embarrassing moments,
and I learned I was not the only one.
You waited till I finally learned:
they were the great teachers.
Thanks! You taught me that.

You helped me see
stirrings in my soul,
screams for sanity and sanctity,
justice and serendipity,
songs I wasn’t listening to,
gentle breezes and a few violent storms,
that moved in out of my life from time to time.

You were slowly sculpting me
like the sand on the shore,
like the stone of mountains,
like mud of earth,
like child in womb,
forming me into your own image and likeness,
becoming ONE with your Son.

Then the crumble, then the cross,
then Easter, Resurrection,
The Risen Son of the morning,
Pentecost Spirit at noon,
and finally evening
experiencing the Prodigal Father’s embrace
whenever I come home to You.
Older brothers and sisters
come to the banquet.
It’s not just for me!

© Andy Costello, Reflections, 2009