Renée Darline Roden – Writer

Category: Prayer

  • making rooms

    making rooms

    Yes is making room for listening for another voice, not your own.

  • Ocotillo burning bush

    Ocotillo burning bush

    Oh Moses speak in flowers, bloom against the desert sky. Why do I need your speech? You, who are only plant. I wish I could make as many words as possible to fill my need, to drown you out. But still you would burn, and I, in the midst of you, kiss the flames that…

  • instruments of freedom

    instruments of freedom

    The Litany of Humility reminds me of MacIntyre Acolytes, Bernie Bros, or Jesus’ disciples. Just because devotees of a particular man or creed are insufferable doesn’t mean that the object or subject of their adulation is defunct. It’s easy to scoff or deride or discount the central teaching of the master because of his bumbling…

  • hygiene

    hygiene

    By 9am, I had completed so many “tasks” that I “have” to do. Mass, confession, a run, a shower, making the bed, morning prayer. But then, in the middle of the shower, congratulating myself for having been so efficient, I wondered what this attitude meant. If I didn’t complete any of these things, my day…

  • riptide

    I almost don’t approach the surf— shielded by a laundry list of justifications: it’s too hot, this sunburn has turned my legs to crisps, I have too much work to do, it’s too far. On a Scrabble board in a bright red bar, I play the word RAGE, he plays the word TRUCE. The salt…

  • Washington Surrenders

    If it be in rebellion or be a transgression against the Lord—save us not this day. Merton smiles at his forefather underneath his strong twin brow. Let me tell you about prayer— it’s in the Bible, read it for yourself. Let me tell you about prayer anyway: it’s the drunken wails of Hannah in the…