The Tremble
Sometimes “Life” (the Ukraine Russian war, the economic downturn, the Afghan Refugee crisis in Nashville, teenage shenanigans, family health issues, a child off at college, friends battling cancer, addiction, betrayal in their marriages, aging parents, a future unpredictable and unknown —the list is endless) leaves me feeling anxious and insecure in my spiritual footing. On a recent jog at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, I named the feeling “the invisible Tremble.” We all suffer from it! The art is not allowing it to overtake you! The prayer below is my wrestling for a way to temper the fear so faith and peace can occupy the lion share of my heart.
Creator of Heaven and Earth,
So many paradoxes my heart must contend
Will Joy ever finally shake Suffering off her trail?
I suffer from an invisible Tremble—
No one can see it, but You.
Fear brings it on—
How its tentacles cover the north, south, east and west of me.
Fear of pain, loss and
all the future unknowns that could break my heart.
I shudder beneath my skin, my heart clutches.
So much to gain
and to lose,
when you love.
Will it ever make sense, this story of Yours?
It was You who planted the idea of Heaven in my heart first.
Yet, evil persists.
I weary from gripping the thread of hope so tight in my hands
Help me stay on the path.
Yesterday, I watched a cardinal dressed in taupe plumes
working on her nest, one twig at a time.
Could this be the cure for my tremble?
Keep building my nest—
connecting the dots for goodness
mining the darkness for light
daring to love
convinced
one day
I will avow:
“God was surely in this place.”
A Grateful Amen.
Ramsey
May 16, 2022 at 6:47 am❤️❤️❤️❤️
Tricia Bass
May 16, 2022 at 9:12 am♥️🕊
Eugene Regen
May 16, 2022 at 12:18 pmAh, Farrell, dear – intended or no, you have just penned the classic Psalm: supplication, insight, reassurance! Supplication, insight, reassurance! etc, etc !!
Indeed, that same God, ground-of-being, who ‘ordered’ structure from chaos at a cosmic level, is doing much the same in our individual
lives.
Mary Spalding
May 17, 2022 at 5:05 amDefinitely hit a cord with me. Life is tough right now on so many levels.
Katie Haney
May 17, 2022 at 12:55 pmThis prayer is wonderful!
🙏🏻
Thank you Ferrell
Faye Tevebaugh
May 17, 2022 at 6:14 pmFarrell, it is so true that there is so much to burden our hearts. Without faith I don’t know how we would survive! Your writing reaches so many to give hope! Congratulations on your graduation from Vanderbilt Divinity School.We are so proud of you for all you accomplish and share with us.
Anne
May 19, 2022 at 7:53 amReread the prayer. Beautiful.