Daily Nourishment for January 18: When Poems Help You Pray
Daily Nourishment Read Time: 50 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 15 minutes
If you aren’t sure how to pray, maybe a poem can help you fill in the blanks.
Pause.
Rest for three minutes. While seated or lying down in a spot in that feels safe and comfortable, set a timer, close your eyes, and rest. If you like, begin this time of rest with six deep breaths with a six-count inhale and a six-count exhale and/or read Matthew 11:28-30.
Prompt.
Listen to What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade by Brad Aaron Modlin.
Then set a timer and write a response for seven minutes. (There are so many things to respond to in this poem!)
Journal, pray, take notes, or start a new poem, essay, story, or letter to a friend.
Practice.
Here’s a quote from Pádraig Ó Tuama about the poem above:
“And I found myself, when I read this poem, thinking, what was the day we were taught that gay boys are boys too? What was the day that you were taught that loving poetry was enough? What was the day we were taught that feeling desperately lonely, even when you’re 10, was OK? How could we be brought into the consolation that as you looked at your own family and felt like everybody else’s family is more together than mine — that that’s OK? How could any of these things be wrapped into the story of a life?”
Keep a running list throughout the rest of the day of the things no one taught you but are wrapped into the story of your life.
*
Workshops, Gatherings, & Resources
The Flourish Anyway Creative Soul Series with Workshop Local (with online classes and in-person classes in Birmingham)
Class 1: Flourish Anyway with Wintry Rhythms, Rituals, & Retreats
Class 2: Flourish Anyway with a Sustainable Retreat Practice
Class 3: Flourish Anyway with Lessons from Iconic Birmingham Writers, Artists, & Musicians
Flourish Anyway with Rhythms, Rituals, & Retreats
Flourish Anyway with Rhythms, Rituals, & Retreats
Today’s Daily Nourishment was provided by Charlotte Donlon.
*Please help us protect our intellectual property, our creative process, and the integrity of our work. Spiritual Direction for Writers® Daily Nourishment is covered under the Spiritual Direction for Writers® trademark. You are welcome to share this link with others, but any other use (written or spoken) is prohibited without written permission from Charlotte Donlon.