Join the Spiritual Thursday round up at Reading, Teaching, Learning.
For Spiritual Thursday, some of us blogging-writer friends are reflecting on each other’s OLW. This week we are writing about “Selah,” Michelle’s word.
Of course I googled it. What else do we do these days when we don’t know a word? (Funny aside: I told a student today I was exasperated, and she googled it and read aloud, “intense anger.” I might have exaggerated.)
On the internet I found a praise group that I had never heard before. I liked the song and will post the YouTube video. I also learned that the word is used 70-something times in the Psalms. As an alto in the choir, I was pleased to see there was a musical reference to a pause. I imagine the // in the notation on a chant.
On the baby name site, Selah is a girl’s name which means “Stop and listen.”
One thing that makes you take stop, pause, and pay attention is a diagnosis of cancer. Our church community has been rocked by the diagnosis of one of our dearest friends, Amy. Amy and her husband Kelly have four children between the ages of 10 and 16. Their kids are often on the altar as acolytes.
Amy has taken on this unfair disease with courage, faith, and hope. She posted recently on her Caring Bridge site that she has a new perspective. “All of the things I spent so much time worrying about mean nothing anymore. When faced with your own mortality, the only thing that really matters are the people that you love and the experiences you share with them.” She sees so much good, in the people cooking meals for her family, in the daily life of our community (specifically Mardi Gras balls), and in the attitudes of her children.
When I crochet prayer shawls, I practice selah. I often chant the person’s name in my mind as I stitch. The selah is a gift to me as well as a gift for the person I make the shawl for. I finished Amy’s shawl last week and gave it to her on Sunday. Kelly is pictured with her holding the prayer blanket that my friend and co-stitcher, Brenda, made.
Amy and Kelly with prayer shawl and lap blanket.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Reflections on the Teche 
I, too, posted a song by Selah. I listened to and watched several of their videos and really enjoyed their music. Your prayer shawl practice is precious. I love your photo and poem about Selah. It really is a wonderful word!
I love that you practice selah when you make prayer shawls… I can see you crocheting! So, so lovely. And yes, it’s during the tough times that we most need selah, which as I am reading today, reminds me of “serenity.” Maybe another synonym? Thank you, Margaret!
How lovely that you make prayer shawls. I like that you chant the name of the person you are crocheting for. A sweet selah. I picked up a crochet needle about a month ago and decided to reteach myself the craft. So far I have a few ragged squares, but they are beginning to look a little more even. I think the last time I crocheted I might have been 13. I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. Wishing you many moments of selah as you walk this journey with her.
I love your prayer shawl ministry! I don’t have any talent for that, but I love the idea of sitting and creating and chanting a name, a verse, a mantra…of praying, focusing, listening. Carol linked up to another blog and I saw a photo of prayer beads. Now, I’m obsessed with making some prayer beads to help me in my search for SELAH. Thank you for your lovely image and your thoughtful words and your meaningful service!!!! Love your post today, friend!
Oh, I’ve loved Selah’s music for years. I don’t think I have this one. Will have to check into iTunes.
Your image and poem are beautiful, very worth a pause.
The making of a prayer shawl can certainly be a journey into prayer, a reminder to pray for that person every time we pick it up, and for the receiver a tangible of prayers given. What a blessing!
I’m learning so much today reading everyone’s post. I love the idea of the prayer shawl and that you chant the person’s name while making it. What a beautiful gift! Thank for you this very touching message.
I will pray for Amy. Cancer is so terrible and takes the most beautiful of all. But at the same time, we can pause and reflect on God’s love and grace that He cares and keeps us through all of our trials and storms in life.
P.S. the beauty of the prayer shawl is such a gift of love. Thank you for listening and using your gifts to bless others.
Margaret, your digital composition is an inspirational one. It delivers a message of hope. I find stillness to be such a soothing state. Being a survivor of lymphoma, I know that wrath of cancer but I also know the miracle of prayer and faith. Your prayer shawls are powerful examples of your sincere desire to lift up individuals who needs support. Know that what you create must be so appreciated by others like Kelly. Two of my close friends are now dealing with different types of cancer so prayer is important. Thank you for the beautiful song and psalm.
I love your “Take light steps…” and your connection of Selah with the story of Amy (such an illustration of when “Selah” needs to become a lifestyle).
Are those prayer shawls hard to make? I remember last time after I read you were crocheting one, I googled prayer shawl patterns but never came up with anything that seemed right. I’d love to hear how you do it…
My dedicated crochet friend is active on the site, Ravelry. I have opened an account, but I don’t do much. It’s another community to join. She finds patterns there. She has shared them with me. I stick to patterns that use basic stitches, chain, single and double crochet. Any shawl pattern can be a prayer shawl. I’ve also made blankets and scarves. It’s not the pattern, it’s the prayer that makes it a prayer shawl.