February Prayers | On Lament
“My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long?”
Greetings, friends.
Karen and I had the privilege of speaking to a group of Christians in architecture last week and we took them through a series of Visio Divinas, or meditations on art. The one I chose came from the Texas-based acclaimed artist, Sedrick Huckaby who did a series of paintings and sculptures in 2020 entitled “Our Lamentations.” The work “Still Standing” below, shows a parental figure behind a young child and it speaks to both fragility, weariness, courage and resilience. As snow and ice has devastated much of our country and political tensions are high, let’s allow ourselves time to take in the pain and grief that, even if not directly affecting us, envelop so many. Let this piece of art, prayer and song create a space for you to give expression to whatever emotions arise.
Still Standing, 2020. Oil on canvas panel, newspaper and wood pulp over wire armature, wood planks, nails, 76h x 50w x 24 1/2 inches
When the Ground Will Not Hold
O God who hovered over the first chaos,
who did not flee the dark,
who did not scold the waters for their disorder.
we come to you with our hands empty of explanations.
The world is loud with fracture.
Nations tremble.
Homes are unmade.
Bodies learn the language of fear by heart.
We confess how quickly we search for leverage,
for certainty,
for someone to blame.
Teach us again how to stand on unsteady ground
without becoming hard.
Teach us to wait without numbing ourselves.
Teach us to pray without demanding relief.
Spirit of God, hover over what is formless in us.
Speak light, even if it comes quietly.
Amen.
-Father Bliss Spillar, Jan. 2026
This prayer, a novena, is a simple, ancient practice of returning to the same prayer over nine days.
Download the series of 9 prayers here.
From all of us at Theological Horizons