A Concord Pastor Comments: Pause for Prayer: SUNDAY 5/17

For today's Pause for Prayer, spend some time with this poem, following which you'll find my own prayer in gratitude for ordinary things... Then look around to discover the ordinary things for which you're grateful...

The Patience of Ordinary Things
by Pat Schneider

It is a kind of love, is it not?
How the cup holds the tea,
How the chair stands sturdy and foursquare,
How the floor receives the bottoms of shoes
Or toes. How soles of feet know
Where they're supposed to be.
I've been thinking about the patience
Of ordinary things, how clothes
Wait respectfully in closets
And soap dries quietly in the dish,
And towels drink the wet
From the skin of the back.
And the lovely repetition of stairs.
And what is more generous than a window?

"The Patience of Ordinary Things" by Pat Schneider
in Another River: New and Selected Poems.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For the patience of time healing my wounds,
for the patience of tears as they wash away pain,
for the patience of mercy forgiving old sins,
I praise you, Lord, and thank you...

For the patience of days keeping me going,
for the patience of growth when I'm dragging my feet,
for the patience of time biding my hurry,
I praise you, Lord, and thank you...

For the sweetness of water slaking my thirst,
for the kiss of the sun on a warm summer's day,
for snow sparkling bright on a cold winter's morn:
I praise you, Lord, and thank you...

For the dance of a leaf as it falls from a tree,
for the touch of rain falling soft on my face,
for the mystery of moonlight catching my eye:
I praise you, Lord, and thank you...

For the patience of morning waiting my rising,
for the patience of night to end my long day,
for the patience of sleep awaiting my rest,
I praise you, Lord, and thank you...

For the patience of others bruised by my faults,
for the patience of those who wait for my care,
for the patience of any whom I have offended,
I praise you, Lord, and thank you...

For the patience of those who forgive and forget,
for the patience of friends who put up with my quirks,
for the patience of those with whom I'm impatient,
I praise you, Lord, and thank you...

For the hand of a child reaching for mine,
for a hand on my shoulder giving me strength,
for your hand's touch on my heart and my life:
I praise you, Lord, and I thank you...

For the patience that's yours when I put off my prayer,
for the patience you show as you wait on my words,
for the gift of your grace ever patient with me,
I praise you, Lord, and thank you...

Amen.