28 November 2013

I Fold My Hands










Like a praying mantis, I am feeble.
I am weak.
I am nothing.
I’m frail.

I am so fragile, relying on my spindly self-assurance.
And yet a zephyr - a mere breeze - could topple me.

Like a praying mantis, I am compelled to clasp my hands.
I am compelled to look to you, my God.
I fold my hands and I look to you.
As I teeter precariously on the edge, I clasp my hands.

I look to you, God.
I acknowledge you as my creator.
You are my provider and the lover of my soul.

You designed me as I am – frail, fragile, and feeble.
Without you I would fall.
Without you, I would fail.

It is in your wisdom that this is so.
I am designed to look to you.
It’s in my nature.
It is in my very DNA.

I am created to need you.
I cannot survive without you.
In your absence, I exist merely in a vacuum.

I look to you, my God.
I enter your presence.
I take a posture of humility.

I am still before you and I wait.
I wait for you.
I wait in expectant anticipation.

A calmness and a peace surrounds me.
I bow my head.

Like a praying mantis, I fold my hands.
My fingers interlock,
As I lock my attention onto you.
I clasp my hands in a prayer of submission to you.

I look on high,
For that is where you dwell.

As my focus zeroes-in on you alone,
The things of this life blur and fade away.
My concerns fade into the background.

I hold my hands in reverence before you.
I am quiet and I rest in you.
You are mine and I am yours.

As I fold my hands,
I am aware that you hold me in your hands.

I am gripped by your love.
Your love surrounds me.

And as you hold me in your hands...

I fold my hands
And I proclaim that I love you.

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Note:
While working in my little yard/garden space yesterday, I spotted this Praying Mantis. Because I have long admired them and find them so intriguing, I often stop whatever I'm doing and linger to observe them. As per usual, I did that this time and even took a few photos.

Later, in the evening, my homegroup from church practiced an exercise of 'soaking' in God's presence. As I quieted my soul and focused on Him, thoughts of Scripture and worship flooded my mind and spirit. I got out a pen and paper and tried to keep up with the meditations as it all flowed so quickly.

Included in what I penned, was this piece about the Praying Mantis.

This tiny, fragile insect is such a perfect symbol of prayer to me. Perhaps it will also prompt you to 'fold your hands' in reverence before God.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That was so beautiful and inspiring. You have the gift of the written word :-) Thanks for sharing.
Peace

Anonymous said...

Very moving. Felt a greater thirst for prayer after reading it :) Kim

Anonymous said...

I really appreciated those words, you certainly have a gift for writing. And I love the lessons you draw from nature.
Sarah

Anonymous said...

It's a beautiful word. Fezi

Anonymous said...

Very good. Edward.