An artist’s prayer

A supplication to God for our creative work

by

Jenai Auman

Art and creativity have been an intimate part of my healing journey in faith. I became a Redbud as a continuation of the journey, and I leapt at the opportunity to join other Redbuds who came together to go through The Artist’s Way at the beginning of 2024. During our meetings each week, we typically broke into small groups. For one particular week, we were encouraged to work on one of two presented prompts for ten minutes within our small groups. I gravitated toward the prompt that asked that we write an artist’s prayer. I consider poetry as prayer. It is a chance to use few words to communicate something indecipherable inside me. The following is what I wrote in that time, and it has seemed to resonate with many fellow Redbuds.

Creator God

You know my core
You know how to integrate
what has disintegrated in me

Grant me space to become—
that I might behold the wonder
of all things before me

Grant me wisdom to see—
that I might no longer be blinded
by the noise and chaos of life

Grant me the security to know—
that I may acknowledge my limits
and establish new boundaries

Grant me a heart of hope—
that I might find peace
among the pieces

Ground my ambition—
that I might never
fly too close to the sun

Goad me into Holy Discomfort—
that I might grow and
expand in the multitudes I am

Give me the courage
to be unmade
so you might make me new

Guide me home—
that I might find shalom in you

Jenai Auman is a Filipina American writer, artist, & author of Othered. She is passionate about providing language so readers can find a faith that frees. She received her bachelor's degree in behavioral health science and is currently pursuing a master's in spiritual formation at Northeastern Seminary. Jenai lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and two sons.