As I noted in another place, there have been glitches/problems with the Blogger platform on which I publish. This post seems to have disappeared so I’m re-posting!
I wrote this prayer eight years ago and have revised it several times. I’m posting yet another version tonight because I know that so many folks in our virtual chapel are struggling through a rough patch,dealing with very difficult life experiences – and finding it hard to pray. And if that’s not you tonight, please pray for those who do find themselves in these words…
Just to pause in your presence
in a moment of silence:
this is my prayer tonight, Lord…
Just to sit in the dark
and ask where you are:
this is my prayer tonight…
To rest in the quiet
and hope you are near:
this is my prayer tonight…
To sit in the stillness,
and ponder your mystery:
this is my prayer tonight…
and ponder your mystery:
this is my prayer tonight…
To wait for you, Lord,
as I waited all day:
this is my prayer tonight…
To sit with my questions,
my doubts and my faith:
this is my prayer tonight…
To take a deep breath
and hope for your peace:
this is my prayer tonight…
To search in my heart
for the pulse of your love:
this is my prayer tonight…
To close my eyes tight,
just to hold back the tears:
this is my prayer tonight…
this is my prayer tonight…
To gaze at the Cross
and remember, « I’m loved »
– this is my prayer tonight…
To open my heart
just to empty it out:
this is my prayer tonight…
To open myself
and then wait to be filled:
this is my prayer tonight…
To mumble, humbly,
my jumble of thoughts:
this is my prayer tonight…
To trust and to hope, Lord,
that all shall be well:
this is my prayer tonight…
To seek and find joy
in the heart of my sorrow:
this is my prayer tonight…
To cry from my depths,
from my loss and my grief:
this is my prayer tonight…
To hear only the silence
and speak not a word:
this is my prayer tonight…
To trust that my silence
is your language, too:
this is my prayer tonight…
To strain just to hear
but one word from you:
this is my prayer tonight…
To hear in the quiet
a whisper of grace:
this is my prayer tonight…
To remember past blessings
and ask you for more:
this is my prayer tonight…
To trust once again, Lord,
that all shall be well:
this is my prayer tonight…
To believe beyond doubt
that I’m held in your hand:
this is my prayer tonight…
To surrender to you
all my worries and fears:
this is my prayer tonight…
To lay bare my life
to the mystery you are:
this is my prayer tonight…
To open my lips
to speak but your name:
this is my prayer tonight…
All this is my prayer, Lord,
this is my prayer tonight…
Protect me, Lord, while I’m awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace…
Amen.
