Monday Morning Offering - 213

Image: George Mendoza

 

Good morning, good God!

Just a week or so ago

I put away the air conditioners

and made sure the boiler was ready for chilly nights.

I got out my heavy jacket

and put my gloves and knit cap by the kitchen door.

And now comes this weekend of bright sunshine

and temperatures in the 70’s…

Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord!

You know how grateful I am for these bonus days:

these leftover almost-summer days

come to surprise me as fall’s first frost

makes ready to nip away memories

of August and July…

Like putting on an old pair of pants

and finding a ten-spot in my pocket,

this warm weekend falls from your pocket, Lord:

an unexpected grace, a boon, a blessing,

the last taste of a season past

and pledge what is yet (but sure) to come again…

The warmth of these short-sleeved days

reminds of all the ways you find to show me

that just when I think it’s all over

– it’s not…

There comes a gift, a wink, a hint from you

of one more day, one more chance,

one more reason for taking one more step

towards you and the peace you promise…

Lord, I pray your pocket’s filled with little gifts

just big enough to catch my eye, turn my head

and steal my heart away from hopelessness

just long enough for me to hear 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,

to guide me when I’m lost,

to lead me where I fear to go,

to give me strength for one more day,

one more night, one more hour,

one more step in your direction,

closer to your heart, to your word
and to 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 you send me go unnoticed,

unseen, unheard, unopened…

When self-pity, envy, anger or my mood

keep me from finding what your grace

has dropped into my lap,

shake and wake me to your presence

and the help you bring,

the help I need and want and pray for…

When I least expect and need you most,

surprise me like a summer’s day

arrived in late October:

bathe me in your peaceful light and from within,

warm me with your presence…

I offer you my prayer of thanks this morning, Lord.

October’s frost may come tonight,

tomorrow or the next day

and surely it will come before I want it –

but when it does, 

remind me of your pocketful of gifts

and all the ways you might surprise me with your love,

today and through the week ahead…

Amen.

 (For an archive of previous Monday Morning Offerings,
check here or click on the coffee cup at the top of the sidebar...)




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