Monday, June 13, 2011

Hannah Has Her Say

1 Samuel 1:1-20
The story of Hannah praying in the temple at Shilo (1 Samuel 1:9-18) inspired me to write the following poem entitled “Hannah Has Her Say.”

With care she folds her words between cracks in the holy silence
the hush imposed on sacred space.
She weighs each syllable to test

what God will tolerate.
Not above a whisper she speaks
but to God’s ear a righteous shout.

And in that moment her heart is impregnated by hope.
She is not drunk as one supposes;
she only knows as she is known.

I have always appreciated the poignancy in Hannah’s actions and the response she received from the priest Eli. When all was said and done Hannah left the temple with renewed hope, knowing God’s peace just as the priest had pronounced it, realizing somewhere deep inside that God was indeed aware of her.

Prayer: God of hope, help us to live in the peace that comes from knowing that you are aware of us and that you care for and love us. Amen.

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