Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 12/22

Forgive us, Lord, our domestication
of your holy, divine incarnation...

Forgive us our buying

and buying yet more

when you call us only to spend ourselves,

with generous love,

in serving those

who have little or nothing to spend...

Forgive us, Lord, for wasting our time,

our energy, worry and money
on foolish things that no one needs

- while real needs go unmet... 

Forgive us our singing Christmas carols

that promise a world-wide peace
while we refuse to reconcile
with our family, neighbors and friends...

Forgive us our over-the-top largesse 

in gifting those who have more than they need

while dropping spare change, and not too much more,

in the Salvation Army kettle

and the street person's Dunkin' cup...

Forgive us for finding and making the time
for shopping, baking and parties
but being too busy for time with you
in our hearts, in the quiet,
in prayer...

Forgive us our painstaking detail, Lord
in wrapping presents and stringing up lights
while paying so little attention
to natural resources wasted 

and precious energy spent...

Forgive us for eating and drinking too much
and throwing away what's left over
while so many hunger and so many thirst
for food and clean water - to live...

Forgive us for telling our children, Lord,

‘bout Santa's sleigh and the elf on the shelf

before we share the beautiful story

of Mary, Joseph and Bethlehem's star

- and Jesus, whose birthday is near…

 

Be patient, deliver and save us, Lord,

from mistletoe, tinsel and toys:

forgive us, we pray, for all of the ways 

we quickly and often forget

that you're the sole reason 

for this holy season 

of tidings of comfort and joy…

Forgive our domestication, O Lord,

of your holy, divine incarnation

and teach us to share

the  love born in you

in Bethlehem town long ago…

Amen. 

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