Living Wittily

Grace, Peace and Fibonacci shaped theology

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A couple of theological Fibs. Not aiming at profundity – more interested in the process of packing transformative ideas like grace and peace into sentences shaped by syllable count, forcing a form of minimalism, and thus an interesting form of contemplative musing, theological reflection – perhaps even deliberately formed prayer. So I've also tried to write a few prayers in the same way, up to the 21 syllable line. Thinking of offering one to the congregation on Sunday, (going where this will be OK!), with brief prior explanation and then read together following one of the Epiphany readings on which the prayer is based. Might then post it.

The Van Gogh is there for no other reason than I think it's one of the most remarkable representations of light dispelling darkness, and of hopefulness as the rhythm of recurring vision and earth illumined under the dance of the stars.  


Grace

Grace.

Love

emptied

of self-love.

Mercy entangled,

refusing to be free from us.

The giving gift of those inept at calculation.

 

Peace

First,

help

others

rebuild trust

from broken promises.

Then speak with hope of being heard

above the din of grievance-fed retaliation.

Comments

6 responses to “Grace, Peace and Fibonacci shaped theology”

  1. chris avatar
    chris

    Like this. I’ve been struggling to write the Intercessions for Sunday (it’s my turn!) – find it hard to think of anything beyond Gaza, which may not go down too well…

    Reply
  2. chris avatar
    chris

    Like this. I’ve been struggling to write the Intercessions for Sunday (it’s my turn!) – find it hard to think of anything beyond Gaza, which may not go down too well…

    Reply
  3. Jim Gordon avatar
    Jim Gordon

    I know Chris. Yet intercession is an act of love that stands in between, and that speaks the truth in love. Evelyn Underhill defines intercession as ‘loving others in the presence of God’. The brutality of war makes loving the combatants – of whatever side near impossible – compassion for the victims rightly forbids sentimental fuzziness about the issues. I share the anger and outrage and inward diminishment of humanity at the events in Gaza, stated in your blog. And such feelings makes prayer hard – let alone prayers that are publicly spoken into military conflict and political impotence to compel more humane behaviour from both sides.
    But where else and where better than the gathering of the followers of the Crucified God to pray about such a cruelly broken world. Finding the words though…. and yet the love of God constrains us to find words to speak the pain and despair of others, or at least let our silence be framed in prayer that hears the cries of those suffering the consequences of war. As to whether such a prayer goes down well – no matter as long as it goes up well! (Sorry couldn’t resist that:-) )

    Reply
  4. Jim Gordon avatar
    Jim Gordon

    I know Chris. Yet intercession is an act of love that stands in between, and that speaks the truth in love. Evelyn Underhill defines intercession as ‘loving others in the presence of God’. The brutality of war makes loving the combatants – of whatever side near impossible – compassion for the victims rightly forbids sentimental fuzziness about the issues. I share the anger and outrage and inward diminishment of humanity at the events in Gaza, stated in your blog. And such feelings makes prayer hard – let alone prayers that are publicly spoken into military conflict and political impotence to compel more humane behaviour from both sides.
    But where else and where better than the gathering of the followers of the Crucified God to pray about such a cruelly broken world. Finding the words though…. and yet the love of God constrains us to find words to speak the pain and despair of others, or at least let our silence be framed in prayer that hears the cries of those suffering the consequences of war. As to whether such a prayer goes down well – no matter as long as it goes up well! (Sorry couldn’t resist that:-) )

    Reply
  5. chris avatar
    chris

    I’m putting a lot in the hands of the Holy Spirit! I’ve so far got this as a central bit:
    We pray to you for the men of violence, that your Holy Spirit may enter their hearts, assuage their fear, allow compassion to replace anger and revenge, bring light to replace the darkness within them.
    But it may well change in the delivering of it. And I like your irresistible comment!

    Reply
  6. chris avatar
    chris

    I’m putting a lot in the hands of the Holy Spirit! I’ve so far got this as a central bit:
    We pray to you for the men of violence, that your Holy Spirit may enter their hearts, assuage their fear, allow compassion to replace anger and revenge, bring light to replace the darkness within them.
    But it may well change in the delivering of it. And I like your irresistible comment!

    Reply

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