The Inner Life, the Lover's Heart: Speaking to the Soul June 15, 2023

For the Feast Day of Evelyn Underhill, inspired by her book Concerning the Inner Life

Beloved Creator,
envelop us in love and prayer–
love, humble and homely,
prayer, confident, adoring, and enduring–
that belief be made manifest as reality.

May we see the splendors of faith
through the artist’s eye and lover’s heart:
each praise rooted, grounded and nourished
in a hidden world of prayer, reflecting
the natural loveliness you have set us within.

May the whole of our lives be
a dance of adoration; our restless hearts
centered in You, O Christ, our model and guide,
in awe and wonder at your work within each soul:
love, joy, and peace,
flashing bright blue like a bluebird’s flight
catches the eyes of those around us,
fanning the flame within and upon his breast.
“Prayer is only the body of the bird–
desires are its wings,” so
may we long for you, Lord Christ,
and embrace the mystery of your grace,
that we may serve You and each other
as agents of the Spirit in the world,
clasped tenderly within the love of God.

Amen.

This was first published at Episcopal Journal and Cafe's Speaking to the Soul on June 15, 2023.

Image: bench at Green's View, Sewanee.