Visio Divina is a prayer practice in which God speaks to us through what we see. In Latin, the words “Visio Divina” mean "holy" or "divine" seeing. I have appreciated this prayer practice for several years, using art. However, it can also be applied to everything we see in the created world, whether grand or tiny. Visio Divina can usher us into a new experience of God.

Jesus, 
You are the Light of the World, the King of the Universe, the only Son of God.
And, the way You chose to show us how to love each other
Was through the sacred ordinary 
Of the basin and towel.

Jesus,
You walked among us—
with sorrow in one hand
and joy in the other.
You received each day as it came
full of grief, full of grace.

Father in Heaven,
We come before You today with gratitude
For the life of Your servant, Julia Greeley.

We thank You for the protection of her body—
Even through the pain
Of enslavement, scarring, sickness, and struggle,
She endured and carried out the call You assigned her.

Beyond the shame and pain for the world, 
In You there is hope and joy. 
We celebrate today the many gifts You have given to us: 
Our life, Your breath, the hope of the world.

We celebrate all You have done today 
And hold on to hope for all You will do tomorrow.

We pray to you Our Lord, Jesus Christ,
but we do not pray in abstraction.
For you are the God who demands specificity.
You are Jesus of Nazareth.
the Word made flesh,
born of Mary,
the eternal Son of God,
raised in the home of Joseph the carpenter.

Father in Heaven,

All that we have
We have received from You.
We bring nothing into this world
And we take nothing out of it.

Today I pray for patience
For myself and my neighbors.
Our lives are relentlessly harassed by hurry
And entangled in cycles of crushing chaos.

Holy Spirit,
May I live in wonder
Awe beyond words,
For Your Holy Presence and Power.

May we honor our ancestor,
And the life and legacy of Jesus,
As we live faithfully in our time and place,
Filled with Your love and grace.

May we forgive our neighbors who trespass against us:
For un-shoveled sidewalks and un-mowed lawns;
For late-night backyard parties and loud music

Father in Heaven, 
May the churches in our neighborhood Be neighborhood churches. 
May we be present to both the people and the place Recognizing where we gather is holy ground. 

Father in Heaven,
You rejoice over us with singing
And put songs of deliverance on our lips.
You counted off creation in rhythm:
Night and day, rest and work,

“What are you seeking?”
May Your question
Clarify our intention
And be a reminder

Be our Counselor as we listen.
Be our Wisdom as we speak.
Be our Breath as we trust it is your sacred presence
In every breath we breathe.

Jesus,
How do we remember rightly:
Your last week,
Your last words?