Welcome, Covid-Created Crap
This current Covid-created reality has turned my world upside-down, and as a result I have lost my balance. At this point, more than 6 weeks in, my best efforts are failing me, my coping mechanisms are betraying me.
But this prayer, with its kindly-spelled-out directions; is giving me room to breathe. It is a compilation of a couple of prayers, including one I was given from an anonymous source, and the Welcome Prayer, beautifully described by Phil Fox Rose at Busted Halo here: https://bustedhalo.com/features/what-works-15-the-welcoming-prayer
I share it with you, just in case you are searching for a little breathing space as well.
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“Any place can be suitable for prayer, but if we want to pray without being disturbed, we would do well, if possible, to find a special place, a consecrated place, so to speak and pray there.” — origin, 2nd century.
As I come to enter into prayer with God, I take the necessary time to acknowledge God’s loving presence with me.
I ask for the faith to believe that my God truly desires to communicate personally with me, and I ask for generosity of spirit — to be able to respond to God’s loving action toward me.
I breathe in deeply. I exhale slowly.
I take time now to quiet my spirit, which is so often full of the clutter and clamour of everyday life. By doing this, I am making more room for God to be with me.
As I sit here, God is present, breathing life into me and into everything around me.
For a few moments, I sit silently. I breathe in deeply. I exhale slowly.
I become aware of God’s loving presence.
I begin to listen to how I am inside.
I notice my thoughts, my concerns, my worries, my preoccupations, my feelings, my desires.
If God were trying to tell me something, would I know?
If God were reassuring me or challenging me, would I notice?
How am I really feeling now, at this moment? Light-hearted? Heavy-hearted?
I may be very much at peace, happy to be here, OR I may be feeling frustrated, worried or angry.
I take a few moments to acknowledge how I really am.
It is the REAL me that the Lord loves.
I breathe in deeply. I exhale slowly.
I stay with these feelings for awhile. I acknowledge them by name, as well as I can. I let myself feel them in my body. I might feel tension, pain, heat, cold, churning or tightness — or loose, calm and relaxed. I don’t judge, or rush to get rid of them. I just let them be.
Whatever I am feeling, mentally, physically or emotionally, I welcome all of these feelings as a genuine part of my experience.
When I am ready, I welcome each of my own feelings by name.
I say aloud: “I welcome (fear). I welcome (anger). I welcome (worry). I welcome (anxiety). I welcome (pain). I welcome (disappointment). I welcome (sadness). I welcome (love).”
I breathe in deeply. I exhale slowly.
It is the REAL me that the Lord loves.
I know that all of my experience is anchored in God’s unconditional love for me.
I breathe in deeply. I exhale slowly.
When I am ready, I offer this prayer aloud.
“I let go of my desire for security and survival. I acknowledge and surrender that need to you.”
I breathe in deeply. I exhale slowly.
“I let go of my desire for esteem and affection. I acknowledge and surrender that need to you.”
I breathe in deeply. I exhale slowly.
“I let go of my desire for power and control. I acknowledge and surrender that need to you.”
I breathe in deeply. I exhale slowly.
“I let go of my desire to change the situation. I acknowledge and surrender that need to you.”
I breathe in deeply. I exhale slowly.
I complete this prayer with my confession for today:
“All I need is to be ______. Jesus, You are all I need.”
I conclude with a prayer of gratitude, in my own words.
I breathe deeply. I exhale slowly.
I proceed with my day. I will return tomorrow.
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