The gift of prudence inclines my mind and heart
to discern what’s truly good in every circumstance
and to choose the right means of achieving it.
The word prudent comes from two Latin words
PRO- VIDERE
which means: to see before, to look ahead.
To be prudent
is to be capable of exercising sound
judgment
judgment
in practical matters…
It
sounds simple, Lord – almost too simple!
sounds simple, Lord – almost too simple!
“Making good choices in practical matters…”
But
then why do I so often act rashly,
then why do I so often act rashly,
impulsively, thoughtlessly, carelessly
– imprudently?
I
think it’s because I don’t look ahead, Lord.
think it’s because I don’t look ahead, Lord.
I
fail to look at the whole picture – the bigger picture.
fail to look at the whole picture – the bigger picture.
I
don’t take the long view.
don’t take the long view.
Instead,
I look only at what’s at hand,
I look only at what’s at hand,
my immediate situation:
what I want now
what will satisfy me now
what I think I need now
and
at the same time
at the same time
I fail to take account of
my long-term responsibilities,
my responsibility for others
and
what my wants and needs will be
what my wants and needs will be
tomorrow, next week, next year…
Prudence
is born of common sense, Lord,
is born of common sense, Lord,
and of good judgement, and thoughtfulness;
prudence
comes when I think before I act,
comes when I think before I act,
when I think through the consequences of my
actions,
actions,
when I pay attention to what I know to be
true,
true,
when I study and read your word,
when I listen to my conscience,
when I desire to act with integrity,
when I’m humble enough to recognize
that it’s never “all about me…”
when I stop and pray
and ask you for the grace, the help, to
be prudent…
be prudent…
And
prudence is mine, Lord:
prudence is mine, Lord:
when I want to see as you see,
when I want to choose as you’d have me
choose,
choose,
when I want to speak as you’d have me speak,
when I want to do what you’d have me do…
when I believe that your way
is – always – better, smarter, wiser than
mine…
mine…
So
I pray tonight as Solomon prayed:
I pray tonight as Solomon prayed:
Lord, give me, a wise and prudent heart…
tilt my heart in your direction,
shift my heart when it’s set in its
ways,
ways,
turn my heart toward those in need,
mold my heart to mirror yours,
stretch my heart to open wider,
move my heart to welcome all,
dispose my heart to be forgiving,
impel my heart to your will
whatever your
will may be…
will may be…
Lord,
I pray you give me the prudence I need:
I pray you give me the prudence I need:
to open my eyes, my mind and heart
and to look ahead,
to take in the long view, the big picture,
to think before I act,
to act with awareness
of all my responsibilities,
to use my common sense,
to do as my conscience directs me,
to
hear the word you speak to me,
hear the word you speak to me,
to
love what you command,
love what you command,
to
seek your truth,
seek your truth,
to follow your Spirit’s guidance,
to go wherever you lead me,
to do whatever you ask of me,
to look ahead with hope in you
and to see the peace you offer those
who pray for a prudent heart..
Protect
us, Lord, while we’re awake
us, Lord, while we’re awake
and watch over us while we sleep
that
awake, we might keep watch with you
awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace.
It’s not easy finding music for prudence – and this piece
might not exactly hit the mark but it comes close: after
all, prudence is « doing the next right thing… »
Do the right thing, do the right thingDo it all the time, do it all the timeMake yourself right, never mind ’emDon’t you know you’re not the only one suffering
I see you up again wandering so diligentCrossing your T’s as though it weren’t irrelevantThey say formality, this is what they really meant:They can be the walk and we can be the pavement
Do the right thing, do the right thingDo it all the time, do it all the timeMake yourself right, never mind themDon’t you know you’re not the only one suffering
So what you’re up against all the disingenuousThey wave you along and say there’s always room for usBut we know better than that to take ’em seriousStill don’t let’em make you bitter in the process
And when the light is up, this is how oughta beWe’ll make it alright, they’ll come around eventuallyThey say it’s nothing but that ain’t the realityThey may take us on but they can never take us easy
They ain’t moving, they’re just moving aroundSo if you love yourself, you better get outGet out, get out, get out now
Do the right thing, do the right thing (do the right thing)Do it all the time, do it all the time (do it all the time)Make yourself right, never mind them (do it all the time)Don’t you know you’re not the only one suffering
I hear a higher callingBetter here than there I guessSo long, so long
