Monday Morning Offering: 10/28

Morning Coffee by George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

The air conditioners are stowed away,

the boiler checked and ready for chilly nights;

my heavier jacket, gloves and knit cap

all stand by, ready to serve...

And then comes a day of sunshine

with temperatures in the 70's - and I cry:

    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 my memories

        of August and July…

Just like putting on an old pair of pants

and finding a ten-spot in my pocket,

    a warm day falls from your pocket, Lord:

        an unexpected grace, a boon, a blessing,

        the last taste of a season passing,

        and pledge what will come again...

The warmth of these bonus days

reminds me of other ways you 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,

    for taking one more step towards you 

    and toward 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 great 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, your word,

        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 go unnoticed, Lord,

    unseen, unheard, unopened…

When self-pity, envy, anger

    keep me from what grace

        you've dropped into my lap,

then 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 - but need you most -

    surprise me like a summer’s day

        that dawns in late October:

    bathe me in your peaceful light 

        and from within,

            warm me with your presence…

I offer you my thanks this day

    for gifts of grace that fall into my lap,

gently placed there by your hand

    in this and every season... 

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 pockets filled with gifts

and all the ways you might surprise me 

    with your love this day 

        and through the week ahead…

Amen.

 

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!