
Revive me, O Lord, for your Name’s sake,
for your righteousness’ sake, bring me out of trouble.
-Psalm 143: 11
While in Portugal this summer, I got to see the Hieronymus Bosch triptych, The Temptation of St. Anthony. It’s the artist’s vision of the visitation of earthly and unearthly creatures inflicted upon St. Anthony that both frightened and engrossed me. Maybe I could enjoy the paintings because the creatures didn’t spook me the way they did St. Anthony. I know that from time to time, we all find ourselves in a scary place and many of us turn to God in prayer to “bring us out of trouble”, as the Psalm reflects.
In her book, Help, Thanks, Wow: Three Essential Prayers, Anne Lamott says, “Prayer means that, in some unique way, we believe we’re invited into a relationship with someone who hears us when we speak in silence.” On the surface that statement is pretty out-there. Someone can hear us even when we don’t speak words? I believe that God wants that kind of relationship with all of us . All of us. Opening ourselves to a mutual kinship with the Divine invites us to ask for help when there’s trouble.
Musical Reflection = In Times of Trouble - The Porter's Gate
Dear God, remind us of this when we ask for help in troubled times:
“Love falls to earth, rises from the ground, pools around the afflicted. Love pulls people back to their feet.” Amen.
-Anne Lamott
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