Dry Bones

by Joyce Rupp on Feb. 01, 2011

Tiredness grounds me
Into a quiet stupor
of the spirit.

I yearn to be inspired,
to be lifted up, set free
beyond the place of deadness.

the struggle goes on,
however,
and you and I, God,
we exist together
with seemingly
little communion.

yet in the deepest part of me,
I believe in you,
perhaps more strongly than ever.

I am learning you
as a God of silence,
of darkness, deep and strong.

I do not wrestle anymore,
only wait, only wait,
for you to bring my dry bones
into dancing once again.

Our bones are dry,
Our hope has gone;
We are done for

        -- Ezekiel 37:11

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer action suggestion:

Divide a piece of paper in half. On the one side list people, events, situations and things that take your energy away. On the other side list people events, situations and things that give you energy. Look at your lists. How much energy is being taken from you? How much do you willingly give away? What can you do to have more balance in your life?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This meditation is reprinted from Joyce Rupp's book May I Have This Dance?

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Thank you..... You are

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Feb. 01, 2011.

Thank you..... You are talking to me.......I will read this everyday,and do the prayer action........God Bless You........

Wow, Joyce. This speaks to

Submitted by Mary F (not verified) on Feb. 01, 2011.

Wow, Joyce. This speaks to exactly where I am at. How wonderful to read your words and gather them into me.

I love these short

Submitted by J Kachin (not verified) on Feb. 01, 2011.

I love these short meditations ...

Ah, thank you. I have been

Submitted by Tina Brennan (not verified) on Feb. 01, 2011.

Ah, thank you. I have been wondering what I have done...or not done...to find myself outside of the ring of fire. I think that I am so much more useful in the great communion. But what do I know? And so I go on unlit, day after day hoping that the ember is still glowing and someday will flare up and surround me again.

Thank you. Awesome poem and

Submitted by Anon (not verified) on Feb. 01, 2011.

Thank you. Awesome poem and a great exercise to check on my balance.

"the struggle goes on,
however,
and you and I, god,
we exist together
with seemingly
little communion."

That's where I've been for a long time. KNOWING God is near yet NOT FEELING that communion. Thanks for helping to put that into words.

Joyce - Inspiration or

Submitted by Mary Harren (not verified) on Feb. 01, 2011.

Joyce -
Inspiration or something - led me to your message today! What a zinger - I've been wresting with some thorny relationships - and let them occupy too much of my time - dwelling on them as it were. Your folded paper method presents a new way of tackling my energies - putting prayer into action. A hundred thousand thanks -

thank you for your poem, we

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Feb. 02, 2011.

thank you for your poem, we all struggle and need the support and encouragement of others. this is God's gift to share our thoughts with others.

Absolutely beautiful....and

Submitted by Kristine (not verified) on Feb. 03, 2011.

Absolutely beautiful....and any moment I decide to let it drain me or to be open and pray for them or self.

Dear Joyce, Bingo! You

Submitted by Julie M. DiScipio OCDS (not verified) on Feb. 03, 2011.

Dear Joyce,

Bingo! You indeed speak my thoughts in an uncanny way. And I see I have lots of company from the above responses.
So we wait for the stirrings of the Spirit as the crocus awaits spring and humanity waits and longs for peace.
Blessings,
Julie

Thanks Joyce. Love this.

Submitted by Kathy Beebe (not verified) on Feb. 04, 2011.

Thanks Joyce. Love this. Working at Hospice is sometimes a quiet place to work. Yet, it is a work of joy. Thanks for sharing. Kathy

Joyce, God speaks through

Submitted by Mary Schmit (not verified) on Feb. 04, 2011.

Joyce,
God speaks through you!!!

So I must learn to WAIT and wait for the stirrings of the Spirit.....

Thank you ! God continue to bless you!

Mary

Dear Joyce, You are truly a

Submitted by Cecilia A (not verified) on Apr. 13, 2011.

Dear Joyce,

You are truly a blessing! You are a blessing especially for us individuals, currently experiencing this phase in our lives. Thank you for the prayer action suggestion. I am positive this will surely help me deal with my afflictions. Thank you! God Bless you!

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