Ruah: Creative Wind

Ruah, written in Hebrew above, is the Hebrew word translated with three different words: "wind" or "breath" or "spirit".  I use it here, a name for God the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ruah.

Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.

Ruah,
Creative Wind,
in the beginning
you blew over the waters
and brought forth light and life.

In my beginning,
you breathed life into my flesh.
Indeed,
every day you are
"the breath beneath our breathing."

Blow again,
Creative Wind!
Enable us to imagine
a world of forgiveness and grace,
a world of peace and unity,
a world of well-being for all,
a world of enough for all,
a world of value for life, and creatures, and creation,
a world Jesus called, "the Kingdom of God".

Having imagined
with you, through you, by you,
Creative Wind,
blow again
and begin to create it
with us,
through us,
among us,
in spite of us
starting in both small and large ways:
deep hurts being forgiven,
wounds healing,
sharing,
caring,
seeking to understand the other,
treating each other and the created order all as Children of God,
living out our prayers,
"Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven."

Ruah,
Creative Wind,
blow again
over the chaotic waters of our creation
and create again
the world of God's BIG dreams
not our small ones.
Amen.


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Sunday, May 15 is Pentecost Sunday, the day the church celebrates the gift of the Spirit to the church. This week's prayers will reflect on the Holy Spirit, God's Ruah.