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| Image: George Mendoza |
Good morning, good God!
Just want to offer thanks this morning, Lord,
for your always being there,
every time I come to pray...
I believe you listen when I pray, Lord:
that your heart hears my heart
even when my heart is silent...
I believe you love the prayer of just my showing up:
the prayer of every time my heart,
my imagination and attention turn,
if only for seconds,
to you, always by my side...
Especially at these times, Lord,
I'm grateful for the ways you catch my glance,
my momentary nod in your direction,
my heart's secret wink to let you know
you're on my mind,
I'm glad you're near,
I want you by my side...
It's not the hour, nor the schedule,
nor my need, much less my idea,
but your Spirit, Lord,
who draws me to pray...
Every prayer of mine
is at the Spirit's prompting, stirring, moving,
urging me to pray...
There's not a moment of any day or night
when your Spirit isn't nudging me
to make some time
to find a quiet place,
to pause and sit with you in prayer...
Just want to offer thanks this morning, Lord,
for your always being there,
every time I come to pray...
I'm grateful, Lord, that you never tire
of hearing my tales of woe, of listening again and again,
of wiping away my tears,
even when I cannot find the words to bring to speech
what I truly want to say
and really need to pray...
I know there's not a thought I have
that comes as news to you.
I know there's not a word I pray
you didn't expect to hear.
I know you hear my wordless prayer
when I can't make a sound.
And yet you never turn away from me
in boredom or frustration,
but rather do you bend,
always closer, ever nearer,
to hear my every plea...
Sometimes, Lord, my prayer is stumbling, awkward,
distracted, selfish, rote, unmindful and disjointed
- and yet you listen to all my jumbled words...
Help me, in my prayer, to be simple in what I say...
Keep my mind and heart attuned, focused on you...
As I come with my own needs,
remind me to pray for others' needs as well...
Help me say the prayers I know by heart
with attention, reverence and devotion
in every word and phrase...
Keep me mindful of your presence, Lord,
and let your Spirit make peaceful
all the time I spend with you...
And when my prayer's not nice and neat,
receive and accept the awkward mess it is
and know, Lord, it comes from one
who wants and waits to be at peace with you...
Keep me faithful to your Spirit, always calling me to prayer;
help me never be afraid to share with you
whatever's on my mind and in my heart...
Just want to offer thanks this morning, Lord,
for your always being there,
every time I come to pray...
Amen.
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