the deepest love from the weakest soul

Lord,
you have asked me just to love you
with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.
But, the one thing you have asked
is the very thing I cannot do.
My heart is heavy.
My soul is disintegrating.
My mind is clouded
and my strength is gone.
Lift from me this burden of sadness.
Put me back together.
Give me a clear vision of you in my mind’s eye
and grant me the grace of rest.
I’m tired and weak.
But I believe that
you are patient and kind,
loving and gentle,
full of compassion and mercy.
Before I can love you,
I need you to love me.
You know this, Lord.
You know me well,
your helpless child.
So, until I can recover myself,
please accept this child’s belief in your love
as the deepest love from the weakest soul.
Amen.

…………………..

the deepest love from the weakest soul
a prayer by troy cady

my Refuge

You are my shelter,
my refuge, Lord.
When it feels like
the world is caving in,
Your love is
my safe place.
In You and You alone
I find all beauty,
truth and goodness.
My heart—
hidden in Your heart—
Your life, my life.
Under the cover
of Your wings
I sing to You.
Alone with You
I am never alone.
Here with You
I hear Your promise
and Your Word
quiets my heart.
Here with You
I find rest,
the perfect rest
of Your loving presence,
my refuge,
my refuge,
my refuge.

……………….

my Refuge
by troy cady

 

Photo from the Boston Public Library via Unsplash.
Creative Commons License.

spiritual direction

Recently, I completed a two-year course of study to become trained in a centuries-old practice known as spiritual direction. In case you’ve never heard of this before, I define spiritual direction as an intentional process whereby one person helps another notice, honor, and respond freely to God’s presence and activity in their life. As a spiritual director, I seek to cooperate with God in nurturing an open space where others can come to God just as they are...to experience what it means to be the Beloved of God.

I love the simplicity and the process of spiritual direction because I see a lot of playfulness in it. Did you know I happen to be passionate about play?!

Though the phrase “spiritual direction” might not sound very playful, time and time again, I have seen the spirit of play embodied in our midst as the person seeking God’s direction experiences freedom, grace, joy, and openness in their relationship with God. In spiritual direction, we engage our imagination and become more childlike (trusting) in our faith.

Like play, spiritual direction is not a pre-planned program. Each session has an improvisational feel to it as we simply listen to what is being said and as we open ourselves to what God might want to say in the spirit of love, just love. We bring the stuff of our real life to the interaction and attune our hearts to the very heart of God, bringing Scripture to bear and applying the gentle, compassionate, and gracious way of Jesus to our lives.

In the midst of such an interaction, we cultivate the spirit of self-forgetfulness (which is also a characteristic of play) as we attend fully to God’s presence in our midst right here...right now.

I’ve become convinced that these kinds of interactions are sorely needed in a world that scarcely slows down long enough to really listen. It saddens me that in our society today we have become increasingly violent towards one another in thought, word, and deed. In that light, spiritual direction is a countercultural way of being with one another, so I am looking forward to practicing it more and more with those who may be interested in it.

I wonder if you sense that spiritual direction could be a help to you in your life? If so, I’ve prepared a sign-up form where you can find out more details about it. If you have any questions or want to talk with me more about it, feel free to reach out via a private message.

In any case: may God’s love and joy, grace and freedom flourish in your life!

in mercy and hope

Trinity Prayer

 

A prayer inspired by St. Patrick:

God of sky, cover me.

Christ of flesh, clothe me.

Spirit of life, fill me.

God and Christ and Spirit

over, all around, and within.

Three-in-One, integrate me.

Lord of my heart, recreate me.

………….

Trinity Prayer

By Troy Cady

.

.

*Photo by Adrian Moran via Unsplash. Creative Commons License.

 

 

the life you have given me

Should this be the last day I draw breath,
let it be a day my heart grows a little bigger.

Let this day be a day of simple prayer,
of asking the Helper to come
when I feel helpless to help others.
Let me trust a little more
and worry a little less.

Let this day be a day of simple love,
of reaching out with a kind word,
a hidden act of humble service,
a listening ear, a welcoming spirit.

Let this day find me singing,
shining a little light,
chasing away despair not by force
but with a gentle, friendly, and steadfast warmth.

Should today be the last day of my life,
give me just enough strength, brother Jesus,
and just enough time to tell your story,
to share your grace, to know
the life you have given me
is more than enough.

…………………………..

the life you have given me
by troy cady
.
.
*Photo by Anne Nygård via Unsplash. Creative Commons License.

Advent: Hope

 

As we wait

for our time

to catch up

to your eternity,

we hope in you,

Ancient of Days.

See us here

in our distress

and give us a vision

beyond division.

Love, captivate our hearts

held captive by hate.

Faith, deliver us

from the fate of despair.

We pray for the day

when Joy will swell

in the wake of truth and justice.

Do not leave us here

cold and alone,

shivering in the night.

Awaken us to the light of grace

by the kiss of mercy

and the touch of compassion.

Speed the day

when earth shall be as heaven

for we have long suffered

these unfulfilled longings.

Come, Lord Jesus.

……………..

Advent: Hope

by troy cady

.

.

.

tuesday prayer

Lord, let my words today be words of healing and hope.

Before a word is on my tongue, still my heart and mind.

Open my ears; help me listen.

Deliver me from pride,

the demand to be understood

that too often prevails

over the desire to understand.

Lady Wisdom, deliver me from myself.

.

Eternal God, I know not what tomorrow may bring,

so give me just enough light for today.

Humble King, help me loosen my grip on all my ambitions

except the ambition to love you and others

as you have loved me.

.

Loving Father, you have always provided all that is needed,

so help me to give generously to others,

to share freely and gladly, knowing your grace never runs out.

.

Jesus, be my Friend,

and help me be a good friend to others,

knowing you long to befriend all.

.

…………………..

tuesday prayer

by troy cady

.

.

.

*Photo by Priscilla du Preez via Unsplash. Creative Commons License.

a blessing for teachers

Good Shepherd prayer

Good Shepherd,

I want to remain

right by your side.

Though others may fail me

and I often stray

from your path,

you are faithful and true.

Whatever comes my way

today, I am yours.

Guide me and provide.

Be my light in darkness,

my comfort in sorrow,

my center when all around is uncertain.

May your perfect love cast out fear.

May hope dispel doubt.

Grant that I may endure hardship

for the joy set before me,

the joy of loving you

and being loved by you,

my good, Good Shepherd.

………………………..

Good Shepherd prayer

by troy cady

.

.

.

.

Word of life

Living Word,

may your words be

in my mouth

for I cherish you

in my heart—

the Word of grace,

a truth that soothes

every hidden heartache.

Patient Word,

slow down my speech,

measure these words

according to the weight of your glory,

make prayer a simpler exercise.

Finish your work

in your good time,

not mine.

Eternal Word,

you have uttered Today,

gentle as the sunrise—

nightfall diminishes not

your strength.

Though my words

be but shadows,

let them be formed

in the cast of your uncreated light—

shaped by your mercy,

new every morning.

……………………..

Word of life

by troy cady

.

.

.

make me a person of peace

Lord, make me a person of peace.

Where there is bitter division,

help me to work for reconciliation.

When someone hurts me,

give me strength to forgive.

When I hurt another,

grant me the humility to seek forgiveness.

Give me understanding

in times of confusion and chaos.

Be my wisdom

when fear would darken

my mind and heart.

Remind me that even in death

you are the resurrection and the life.

Lord, you know that I worry about many things.

Still me within as you stilled the storm without.

Show me that I can count on you; I am just a child.

Nurture within me a quiet confidence in you

that grows stronger day by day.

Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace,

be in my mouth,

making my words gentle;

be in my eyes,

viewing others through the lens of grace;

be in my listening,

make me a true companion;

in my tasting,

fill my whole body with gratitude;

in my breathing,

take in the very scent of love;

let these hands heal,

and my feet go gladly

to the side of the needy.

Lord Jesus, my King,

move my feet, move my hands

to the rhythms of your peace.

………………….

make me a person of peace

by troy cady

.

.

.

Evening Prayer: The Faces of Christ, part 1

Tonight I begin a 5-part series of prayerful reflections on key turning points in the life of Jesus. Each part of the story speaks to our lives today as we wonder together.





Click here to view other installments of my reflective evening prayer sessions.

Evening Prayer: Cross Prayer

For the past week I have been leading a session of evening prayer every day. This is the seventh session. You can find the previous six sessions in my YouTube playlist here. 

These days it seems like we are all reaching out into the darkness to try and make sense of how our lives are changing. In tonight's bit of quiet reflection, I invite you to pray with me in this quest for meaning.

words, silence and presence

in silence the word i speak

grows stronger

in the silence i turn

to the healing touch

of love,

the gentle quiet

caressing the cuts,

treating the trauma

the silence warms

the heart

like a candle’s flame

brightening

the room,

whispering awake

the speechless soul

here in the silence

i seek you

and meet you—

the Word of hope

growing stronger within

out of the silence

the Word emerges,

a presence fuller

than many words

hear the silence invite—

the Word dwells richly

without and within

i pray

these words

emerge

from the fullness

of the Word’s silent presence

…………………

words, silence and presence

by troy cady

.

.

.

.

show me the place

While I look for my place in the world

show me where I belong.

If you want to send me someplace else,

I will go.

Wherever you send me

I will go to give and receive love—

and if I am already in the place you want,

I will remain right here to give and receive love.

Just let me be in the place of your choosing, Lord—

a place where I cannot rise too high,

nor sink too low—

a place where I am able to work and rest,

to play and pray,

to know and be known.

Help me honor my limits, Lord.

When I worry about

my natural boundaries,

may my heart go deeper into yours.

Send me not

from your sending heart,

let me be present

to your loving presence

in every place

at every time

for everyone

and everything

in creation.

My dwelling place—

your joy poured out

for thirsty souls.

My home—

your gathering song.

………………

show me the place

by troy cady

.

.

.

.

my heart for you

My heart goes out to you this morning

before the cares of the day set in,

when every week

seems frenzied,

and you feel the burdens you carry

grow heavier.

And I want you to know

I pray for you.

I pray you will know you are loved.

I pray that deep inside you will know the rest

that comes from knowing you are loved.

I pray for deliverance from

the lie that says you need to do more

to prove your worth.

I pray for release from the grip of fear,

that you would know the beauty

that grows in you,

that in time all good things

mature and flourish,

that goodness grows in you,

that there is hope.

I pray for healing in grief,

that comfort would be yours

as you know the pain of loss.

I pray you would see

what God sees in you—

that you are special and gifted—

that when God thinks of you,

God delights in you.

I pray your heart would be strengthened,

open and childlike—

that you would be filled with faith,

that you would have patience to wait—

to know that in time all good things

mature and flourish,

that you would have the sense

that the best is yet to come.

I pray that even when life

seems to be crashing down all around

you will know the center

where mercy lives,

where grace is able to give you

more than what you need,

where God’s strength is perfected in your weakness,

where God’s grace is perfected in you.

……………………………………

my heart for you

by troy cady

.

.

.

.

a prayer for Epiphany Sunday

It’s Epiphany Sunday, a special day to remember “foreigners” who saw a dancing star and brought gifts from another land to honor the advent of the Christ child. A prayer.

……………………

God of grace,

thank you for your patience with us

as we are slow to recognize

how you have revealed yourself to us

not in our own wisdom

but through the wisdom of others

whom we have discounted as foolish.

Immanuel,

thank you for coming close to us

through those who are far away

though they have been right beside us all along.

We confess how we’ve taken you for granted,

failing to see the gifts

that are brought to you

and that you bring to us

by those we’ve dismissed.

Have mercy on us, child of God,

and forgive us.

And teach us to be like you

so we may become like children,

that we may see and learn from

and honor your image

impressed on each and every child of yours

in every place for times like these.

Deliver us from our petty divisions.

We are torn by violence;

Light of the world, pierce the darkness;

living Word, break the silence;

heal us, bring us together.

Amen.

………….

.

.

a prayer for Epiphany

by troy cady

*Photo by Dmitri Ratushny via Unsplash. Creative Commons License.

.

.

before the sun rises

Before the sun rises

I quiet my soul—

I still myself

as the earth turns—

the stillness,

a sign of my consent

to your presence,

the way you move

always in love and hope.

Before the sun rises

I trust to hope—

your unfinished work,

creation’s perfection,

this new day,

a new time

and new place

to delight in your presence,

to hold your hand,

to embrace you

whom I could never catch.

…………………

before the sun rises

by troy cady

.

.

.

.

when weak and afraid

“Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”  -Psalm 100:3

Did you really make me

and do you really love me, Lord?

Am I really yours?

Sometimes it’s hard to hear you.

Sometimes I cannot see you.

Sometimes I feel lost,

surrounded by wolves,

afraid and helpless.

Have you led me here

or have I just wandered here

on my own?

I don’t know which way to turn.

The only place I want to be

is wherever you are.

Good shepherd, loving God,

I am yours.

Guard my heart.

Give me hope.

Let me hear your voice.

Lead me on your path.

Lend me your bravery.

Drive fear from me

by your strong and gentle love.

I am nothing without you.

I’m not perfect; give me grace.

Your words are kind,

your heart is tender,

and your strength is great.

But I am weak.

I hate myself,

am hard on myself.

Good shepherd, loving God,

only you can save me.

Strengthen me

by kindness,

with tenderness.

Do not leave me abandoned.

Show me your goodness.

Amen.

…………………………

when weak and afraid

a prayer by troy cady

.

.

.

.