The Voice We Can Scarcely Hear

"You are the voice we can scarcely hear
because you speak to us about dying and suffering,
and we are impacted by so many voices
that have to do with power
and competence
and success.

We do know that you are the voice that gives life,
that you are the voice that opens futures to people who are hopeless.

We are a part of a hopeless people,
because the other voices eat at our hearts,
and we are immobilized
and we become deaf.

So we pray for new ears.

We pray that your voice may be more audible to us,
that we may be able to sort out the death-giving
from the life-giving voices among us.

We pray in the name of Jesus,
through whom you have spoken
in such inscrutable ways.

Amen."

Walter Brueggemann (October 1, 1976)
Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth, Page 55