Thursday, August 19, 2010

prayer for those being bullied

Bullying happens in all sorts of ways – verbal and physical, perceived and real. It requires confronting, but sometimes that is not immediately possible. This is a prayer emerging out of being with some who feel powerless, as an application of Celtic “caim” or circle prayer.

Imagine you are in a bubble. It stretches all around you. Inside this bubble is a place for you to stand, to feel safe, secure, loved. Feel the security and safety.

This bubble has a window. This gives you a choice. You can let the words and people and actions in. Or you can imagine another choice. You can imagine that when words and actions and people hit the bubble, they simply bounce back.

Imagine words and actions bouncing back to those who might send them.

The bubble around you is God. Feel the security and safety. Take God’s love and protection with you into your day.

You might want to make this prayer your own, for yourself or for others you know. If so, one way to do that is to simply leave your initials as a comment.

For other everyday prayer practices, go here.

Posted by steve at 12:29 PM

8 Comments

  1. That is a most excellent – and practical – prayer. Especially in a time when society leans toward vindictive (rather than restorative) justice, a prayer such as this is needed to break such a vicious cycle and thus allow for restoration to flow.
    Many thanks.

    Comment by Ryan — August 19, 2010 @ 1:42 pm

  2. I so need this! Thanks …

    Comment by Jill W — August 23, 2010 @ 7:01 am

  3. Thanks for the responses Ryan and Jill,

    Kia kaha to you both

    steve

    Comment by steve — August 23, 2010 @ 8:45 am

  4. “Imagine you are in a bubble” …

    Please don’t offer this advise to and children… talking about bubbles and love is a sure way to make yourself a target of bullies at most of the schools I went to.

    Comment by Zoro — August 29, 2010 @ 10:54 am

  5. Well Zoro, it proved immensely helpful to the child I was working with. Not as a longterm prevention strategy (we also talked through different strategies for next time and also engaged in a process with the teacher).

    But for, that moment of feeling powerless, it was very helpful,

    Steve

    Comment by steve — August 29, 2010 @ 1:13 pm

  6. Glad to hear that Steve. My comment was tongue in cheek! I am sure that any reminded that we are under God’s protection is reassuring to children and adults alike!

    Comment by Zoro — August 30, 2010 @ 10:50 am

  7. Thanks Zoro for the clarification.

    steve

    Comment by steve — August 30, 2010 @ 10:55 am

  8. That’s OK. Bullying, and abuse of power are awful things wherever they occur.

    Comment by Zoro — August 30, 2010 @ 6:18 pm

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