Written as part of a lent retreat with The Abbey of the Arts (www.abbeyofthearts.com) where each week we are looking at different ways in which Earth is our original monastery.
Each week we work through a chapter of the book, Earth, Our Original Monastery, by Christine Valters Paintner. So far we have explored Earth as our original cathedral, scripture, saints, spiritual directors, and icon, with sacrament and liturgy to come. Saturday is a day for rest and integration.
Each day has input from a different guide who uses their own creative invitations to help us engage with the week’s focus. We have been guided through meditation, heard and written poetry, taken contemplative walks, considered the wisdom of different trees, worked with different psalms, learned dances and songs, used different art forms including painting, using herbs and photography.
This week we have been looking at Earth, our original icon – Earth’s beauty and struggle. In our Earth Psalter day, led by Cassidhe Hart, we were invited to write an uncensored psalm using psalm 142 as inspiration.
Psalm 142 is one of the many psalms of lament. We have learned the importance of lament; writing our own psalm can help us to access and acknowledge grief, letting that energy through us to make space and release body held tensions.
I bring you an example of such a lament and invite you to write your own.
Dear God What a mess we are in The anger that has kept me going has run out The buffoons in charge couldn't give a damn Engrossed by greed, hatred and lies, they're undoing all that has been achieved and not stopping there All I can bring is my tears I'm worn out I miss the seasons so much Hardly anyone thinks as I do People continue to buy and fly to get their share Fires, floods, droughts, famine, wars - apocalypse now The creatures don't understand and can't escape The crops are powerless to produce The extent of our stupidity is unfathomable Maybe our extinction would be a gift to the world Help us to see to connect, to act Help us to protest to save and restore salvage and replenish to imagine new solutions enforce stronger laws protect For our children and their children For our creatures and their creatures For our plants and their plants For our air and water, wind and rain Encourage us Help us to fall in love with life and love Again or maybe for the first time.
With best wishes
Linda Courage
