A Prayer for the Living
– Jeff Foster
Life
Break in me whatever needs to be broken.
Fix my hope of ever being fixed.
Draw every ounce of creativity out of me.
Help me live a radically unique life,
Forever forging a never-before-trodden path in the forest.
Show me how to love more deeply than I ever thought possible.
Whatever I am still turning away from, keep shoving in my face.
Whatever I am still at war with, help me soften towards, relax into, fully embrace.
Where my heart is closed, show me a way to open it without violence.
Where I am still holding on, help me let go.
Give me challenges and struggles and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, if that will bring an even deeper humility and trust in the intelligence of life.
Help me laugh at my own seriousness.
Allow me to find the humor in the dark places.
Show me a profound sense of rest in the midst of the storm.
Don’t spare me from the truth. Ever.
Let gratitude be my guide.
Let forgiveness be my mantra.
Let this moment be a constant companion.
Let me see your face in every face.
Let me feel your warm presence in my own presence.
Hold me when I stumble.
Breathe me when I cannot breathe.
Let me die living, not live dying.
This poem came to me from a fellow dancer Doreen. I was at a workshop several years ago. The guide wove together body movement and poetry, writing, words together. She asked us each to bring a poem to share. She then paired us up with a partner. My partner was Doreen. We sat across from each other and read each other the poem we brought. I read mine to her. She read this poem to me. A million words have been spoken and written but this combination of words seemed to have been written for exactly where I was, exactly what I needed to hear. It went in through my ears and has never left. At the end the teacher said, “I asked you to bring a poem to share and I meant it. You have shared with your partner your poem, but the poem you brought was not yours, it was meant for the one you shared with. They brought one for you and you brought one for them. And all of the poems ended in the hearts of the person it was meant for”.
I have come to this poem hundreds of times. It speaks to me. Every line has possibility and presence. I still use the phrase “let this moment be a constant companion” often to return to the present, it brings me such a sense of connection to everything.
As I was in the midst of doing the deep healing work, when I thought I would be broken, I would remind myself over and over with the line “break-in me whatever needs to be broken” that there was meaning to my pain. I offer this poem as it was offered to me. For anyone who may find solace, hope and support from it:)