{"id":7887,"date":"2019-07-24T19:08:12","date_gmt":"2019-07-24T17:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/?p=7887"},"modified":"2019-07-31T17:11:17","modified_gmt":"2019-07-31T15:11:17","slug":"guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/24\/guest-post-reflections-on-the-word-embrace\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest post: Reflections on the word ’embrace’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
\n“to love and to cherish” by Ian Evans-Boiten   (Photo by Willem Wilstra)<\/span>
\n <\/p>\n

On the Feast of Pentecost 2019 I (Irene) was privileged to take part in the dedication service<\/a> of a Christian retreat in the south of France, Colomba le Roc<\/a>. Located a few kilometers from the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Colomba le Roc is run by Rev Joanne Evans-Boiten<\/strong> and her husband, Ian<\/strong>. Here Joanne shares some reflections on the word “embrace”.<\/p>\n

Joanne writes,<\/p>\n

A few years ago I was asked to do a talk about my experiences as a pilgrim on the way to Santiago. <\/p>\n

No talk nowadays is complete without plenty of pictures and so I chose some photographs taken on my journey. However, I missed a suitable illustration to express the welcome I had felt at times, particularly in moments of difficulty. So I looked on the web and googled \u201cwelcome, pilgrim\u201d.<\/p>\n

One photograph in particular stood out. It was of a man, arms wide open and a big smile on his face. The picture did not just say \u201cwelcome\u201d. It said \u201cWelcome. I am so glad you are here – I have been waiting for you.\u201d <\/p>\n

To me, that is what the word “embrace” is about in the first place: arms wide open as a sign of welcome. A welcome that is as non-judgmental, as loving, as that of the Father in the parable of the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-32<\/a>)<\/p>\n

But these same arms are also cherishing arms that protect; arms like the wings of a mother hen who covers her chicks when they are in danger and who is willing to give her life so that they may live. <\/p>\n

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
\nAll people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.<\/em><\/p>\n

Psalm 36:7<\/a><\/div>\n

 
\n 
\nCeltic Christians used circling prayers as reminders of God\u2019s protecting embrace. This prayer by David Adam<\/strong> from his book, Tides and Seasons<\/em><\/a>, was written in that tradition:<\/p>\n

Dressing Prayer<\/h3>\n

This day I bind around me
\nThe power of the Sacred Three:
\nThe hand to hold,
\nThe heart to love,
\nThe eye to see,
\nThe Presence of the Trinity.<\/p>\n

I wrap around my mortal frame
\nThe power of the Creator\u2019s name:
\nThe Father\u2019s might, His holy arm,
\nTo shield this day and keep from harm<\/p>\n

I cover myself from above
\nWith the great Redeemer\u2019s love.
\nThe Son\u2019s bright light to shine upon me,
\nTo protect this day to eternity<\/p>\n

I pull around me with morning light
\nThe knowledge of the Spirit\u2019s sight.
\nThe Strengthener\u2019s eye to keep guard,
\nCovering my path when it is hard.<\/p>\n

This day I bind around me
\nThe power of the Sacred Three<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

by David Adam, from Tides and Seasons: Modern prayers in the Celtic tradition<\/a>, p. 11<\/p>\n

 
\nMay God\u2019s embrace empower us too to welcome and protect those who need it most.
\n <\/p>\n\n

 
\nFrom the blog<\/strong>
\nCircle me, Lord<\/a>
\nIn the school of prayer with the Celtic Saints<\/a>
\nUp to us<\/a>
\nWelcome ~ embrace<\/a>
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“to love and to cherish” by Ian Evans-Boiten   (Photo by Willem Wilstra)   On the Feast of Pentecost 2019 I (Irene) was privileged to take part in the dedication service of a Christian retreat in the south of France, Colomba le Roc. Located a few kilometers from the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, … Continue reading “Guest post: Reflections on the word ’embrace’”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13,45,3],"tags":[164,171,47,169,170],"class_list":["post-7887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible","category-guest-post","category-prayer","tag-embrace","tag-joanne-evans-boiten","tag-morning-prayer","tag-pilgrim","tag-pilgrimage"],"yoast_head":"\nGuest post: Reflections on the word 'embrace' - 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people, set aside to be \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God\u2019s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "benediction"","block_context":{"text":"benediction","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/benediction\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/garden_at_colomba_le_roc.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/garden_at_colomba_le_roc.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/garden_at_colomba_le_roc.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/garden_at_colomba_le_roc.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16341,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2025\/05\/26\/on-my-mind\/","url_meta":{"origin":7887,"position":1},"title":"On my mind","author":"Irene Bom","date":"May 26, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Philip Roth: \"make the daily connections\" \u00a0(Artwork: Irene Bom) \u00a0 \u00a0 UPON RANDOMLY THINKING OF ANOTHER PERSON God, as I hold ____________ a moment in my thoughts, I ask that you would hold them eternally in yours, remaining ever at work in their heart and life, even now directing their\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/make_the_daily_connections_philip_roth.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/make_the_daily_connections_philip_roth.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/make_the_daily_connections_philip_roth.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/make_the_daily_connections_philip_roth.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12918,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2022\/05\/01\/in-the-school-of-prayer-with-terry-hinks\/","url_meta":{"origin":7887,"position":2},"title":"In the school of prayer with Terry Hinks","author":"Irene Bom","date":"May 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Here are some extracts on the topic of prayer by Terry Hinks from his introduction to Luke's Gospel in God's Embrace: Praying with Luke. \u00a0 \u00a0 I've also included the prayer inspired by his reflections on the disciples' request in Luke 11:1, 'Lord, teach us to pray'. \u00a0 I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/blooming_tree_pink.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/blooming_tree_pink.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/blooming_tree_pink.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/blooming_tree_pink.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7875,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/16\/welcome-embrace\/","url_meta":{"origin":7887,"position":3},"title":"Welcome ~ embrace","author":"Irene Bom","date":"July 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 The Welcoming Prayer Welcome, welcome, welcome. I welcome everything that comes to me in this moment, because I know it is for my healing. I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons, situations, and conditions. I let go of my desire for security. I let go of my desire for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/embrace_definition.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/embrace_definition.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/embrace_definition.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8221,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/09\/24\/on-pilgrimage\/","url_meta":{"origin":7887,"position":4},"title":"On pilgrimage","author":"Irene Bom","date":"September 24, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"From my book shelf \u00a0...\u00a0 links included below \u00a0 \u00a0 Quotable quotes and a prayer from the To be a pilgrim workshop I led in Geneva recently. \u00a0 People of all faiths seem to recognize pilgrimage as an essential spiritual practice. In researching WHY this should be the case, there\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "event"","block_context":{"text":"event","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/event\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/on_pilgrimage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/on_pilgrimage.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/on_pilgrimage.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/on_pilgrimage.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7290,"url":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/2019\/07\/05\/bend-down-low\/","url_meta":{"origin":7887,"position":5},"title":"Bend down low","author":"Irene Bom","date":"July 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Artwork, Gorinchem Museum \u00a0(Photo: Irene Bom) \u00a0 Our theme for July is EMBRACE. May you know the embrace of God today, and draw others into the circle of embrace by your prayers and by acts of loving kindness. A Prayer for Others Lord Jesus Christ, when you walked on dusty\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/tree_roots_art_work2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/tree_roots_art_work2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/tree_roots_art_work2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/tree_roots_art_work2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Joanne Evans-Boiten","author_link":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/author\/joanne-evans-boiten\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/bible\/\" rel=\"category tag\">bible<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/guest-post\/\" rel=\"category tag\">guest post<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/category\/prayer\/\" rel=\"category tag\">prayer<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"“to love and to cherish” by Ian Evans-Boiten   (Photo by Willem Wilstra)   On the Feast of Pentecost 2019 I (Irene) was privileged to take part in the dedication service of a Christian retreat in the south of France, Colomba le Roc. Located a few kilometers from the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela,…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7887"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7887\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.irenebom.com\/prayer_matters\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}