It was 16 years ago that I first posted this poem by William Stafford and over the years I’ve offered it for our Lenten prayer a number of times.
The Way It Is
There’s a thread you
follow. It goes among
follow. It goes among
things that change. But
it doesn’t change.
it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what
you are pursuing.
you are pursuing.
You have to explain about
the thread.
the thread.
But it is hard for others
to see.
to see.
While you hold it you
can’t get lost.
can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people
get hurt
get hurt
or die; and you suffer
and get old.
and get old.
Nothing you do can stop
time’s unfolding.
time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of
the thread.
the thread.
Most of us lead lives of many threads. Some are stronger than others, some are of our own making, some are woven into the fabric of our being with or without our permission… And it’s with or without our permission that the Spirit weaves the thread of God’s grace and design into the cloth of our being, our lives… God’s thread in our lives does not change: it’s pliable yet strong, it hems and mends, it tucks and tailors, it stitches and sutures…
Be the thread, Lord,
that runs through my whole life:
the thread of grace
that sews my soul to yours…
Thread your grace through my relationships,
through all my joys and sorrows,
through the good times and the bad times,
through all my nights and days…
Be the the thread, Lord,
that holds tight, secure and strong
in the face of all that threatens
to unravel all that holds me
close to you…
Be the thread I can’t explain
– don’t really understand –
yet the thread for which I’m
for all the ways it stitches up
the wounds that rend my heart…
Be the thread I always cling to,
the thread I won’t let go of:
the thread of faith, my thread of hope,
your thread of love
that knits my heart to yours…
Protect me, Lord, while I’m awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace…
Here’s a song about threads and I hope it will have meaning for all of us, and especially for those, these days, who may be « hanging on by a thread… »
I’m tired of trying to keep it all together
Tired of lies disguising who I really am
There’s pain that’s hiding underneath the surface
I’m tired of trying to keep it on the inside
But here before your love I’m not afraid
I’m gonna let you pull the threads
‘til my heart unravels
Open me up with every breath
‘til the darkness scatters and runs away
I’m ready to fall apart
Fall into your loving arms
I’m gonna let you pull the threads
‘til my heart unravels into Yours
You’re reaching out your hand
To pull me close again
You see me as I am still you want me
Here before your love I’m not afraid
You stitch me back together with your grace
Here before your love I’m not afraid
You stitch me back together with your grace
