hands open to the world

“Prayer is first and foremost listening.... People who pray stand with their hands open to the world. They know that God will show [God's self] in the nature that surrounds them, in the people they meet, in the situations they run into. They trust that the world holds God’s secret within it, and they expect that secret to be shown to them.”

-- Henri Nouwen

-- (Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings, "Prayer", p. 34-35)

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As we pray...
we stand with our hands open to the world.
Trusting that You will show Yourself
in the nature that surrounds us,
in the people that we meet,
and in the situations we encounter.

We come with the expectation
to hear from You, and
we come with the desire
to be shaped in this season.
Help us to listen to Your voice
in new ways today and
throughout this season of Lent.

It is through You that
we learn to listen with
hands open to the world.

And it is through the One who
was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days,
the One who remained faithful to You,
the One whose life, death, and resurrection
marks this Lenten journey towards the cross,
...it is in this name, Jesus Christ, that we pray.

amen.