Psalm of Petitionary Praise: A Cry from the Margins

Psalm of Petitionary Praise: A Cry from the Margins

By Carmen Sophia Cutler

Peoria, AZ, USA

Lord, are you at the center?—

that hub of surety, clarity, simplicity.

Lord, are you at the margins?—

those complex spaces, traced

with grief, with rage, boiling over with grace.

Because I am stronger

standing on the verge.

In that periphery, I am strong in Thee.

So often I stand at the chapel door,

with rage I demand: Let me

be in that simple center!

Part the waters for me.

So often I stand at the chapel door

with a prayer of praise: Lord,

you brought me where I am,

broken, healed, complicated,

replete with your grace.

Anger. Praise.

Both of these

bring me to the door.

Both of these

link my cracked voice

to the cracked palms of the Lord,

where I find my name

already written.