|
Kristy K.
Smith
Out of all
the offices, Compline is the one that I
love. The prayers are such a beautiful
offering of thanksgiving. They are an
offering of the day and of our life to
God for God's glory. The prayers remind
me that God was there with me through it
all, and in the events and sights of the
day were glimpses of salvation. Like a
blanket of Love, the prayers of Compline
surround us at the end of the day and
hold us fast through the night.
At a diocesan retreat early in July, I
walked outside after Compline and was
greeted with the sky in its dusk blues,
and there was Compline
–
echoing all around me in the colors of
the sky: "Grant us a peaceful night and
a perfect end. . . Guide us waking, O
Lord, and guard us sleeping. . . Lord,
you now have set your servant free, to
go in peace as you have promised in
peace. . . these eyes of mine have seen
the Savior, whom you have prepared for
all the world to see. . . a Light to
enlighten all nations and
the glory of your people. . . hide us
under the shadow of your wing. . . keep
watch this night with those who work or
watch or weep. . ."
Kristy K. Smith is an Episcopal priest
in Des Moines, Iowa. She received a BFA
from the University of Iowa and a
Masters of Divinity from Seabury-Western
Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL.
She also has completed the Spiritual
Director's training at Shalem Institute
in Bethesda, MD. Kristy does both
individual and group spiritual
direction, and leads retreats/quiet days
focusing on spiritual life and on art as
a language of the soul. Kristy considers
color, line, shape and images her first
language, the language of her soul. She
is currently working on a book of prayer
drawings, which will offer new insights
into the Bible stories for Year A from
the lectionary. She and her husband Dave
have two grown children.
Kristy K. Smith
Email:
kristyks@juno.com
Parish: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church -
Des Moines, Iowa |
next
top of page