Like many other people I am sharing in the #BigRead14 using Stephen Cherry’s book Barefoot Prayers as my Lenten resources. I hadn’t intended to write anything here in response to it. However, today I felt the need to write something so I thought I would “answer back” to his poem/prayer Fullness of Life. I answer with the kénōsis because in order to be filled we might first need to consider emptying ourselves.
I hear your prayer for fullness;
you brim over
with God-knows-what.
Oh, if only you would stop
fall
pour yourself out.
Know this,
I choose to fill only your surrendered space.
I do not force and displace
but give by love to that created place
that you have crammed with God-knows-what
“Give me!”
I give you this path to walk.
Take off your shoes
embrace the barren wilderness
and in the desert
I will fill your hungry soul.
