Good morning, good God!
The air conditioners are stowed
away,
away,
the boiler checked and ready for
chilly nights;
chilly nights;
my heavier jacket, gloves and knit
cap
cap
all stand by, ready to serve…
And then comes a day of sunshine
with temperatures in the 70’s – and I cry:
thank you, thank you, thank you
Lord!
Lord!
You know how grateful I am for
these bonus days:
these bonus days:
these leftover almost-summer days
come to surprise me as fall’s
first frost
first frost
makes ready to nip away my
memories
memories
of August and July…
Just like putting on an old pair of
pants
pants
and finding a ten-spot in my
pocket,
pocket,
a warm day falls from your pocket,
Lord:
Lord:
an unexpected grace, a boon, a
blessing,
blessing,
the last taste of a season
passing,
passing,
and pledge what will come
again…
again…
The warmth of these bonus days
reminds me of other ways you show me that
– just when I think it’s all
over –
over –
it’s not!
There comes a gift, a wink, a hint
from you of
from you of
one more day, one more chance,
for taking one
more step towards you
more step towards you
and toward the peace you
promise…
promise…
Lord, I pray your pocket’s filled
with little gifts just big enough
to catch my eye,
turn my head
turn my head
and steal my heart away from
hopelessness
hopelessness
just great enough
for me to hear
you whisper in my ear:
you whisper in my ear:
Hang in there…
you’re not alone…
there’s another day…
I’m by your side all through the night
until a new day comes…
take another step…
trust for just a moment…
and know that I am with you without fail…
Surprise me with your grace, Lord,
with unexpected gifts
to
bring me hope,
bring me hope,
to guide me when I’m lost,
to lead me where I fear to go,
to give me strength for one more
day,
day,
one more night, one more hour,
one more step in your direction,
closer to your heart, your word,
your peace…
Surprise me with your grace, Lord,
and nudge me ’til I find the gifts
that come from your own hand…
Let no gift go unnoticed, Lord,
unseen, unheard, unopened…
When self-pity, envy, anger
keep me from what grace
you’ve dropped into my lap,
then shake and wake me to your
presence,
presence,
and the help you bring,
the help I need and want and pray
for…
for…
When I least expect – but need you
most –
most –
surprise me like a summer’s day
that dawns in late October:
bathe me in your peaceful light
and from within,
warm me with your presence…
I offer you my thanks this day
for gifts of grace that fall into
my lap,
my lap,
gently placed there by your hand
in this and every season…
October’s frost may come tonight,
tomorrow or the next day
and surely it will come before I
want it –
want it –
but when it does,
remind me of your pockets filled with
gifts
gifts
and all the ways you might
surprise me
surprise me
with your love this day
and through the week ahead…
