Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 7/25

As you well know, Lord:

   I pray for many things... 

 

I pray for peace in the world

    and in our nation and our families 

and I pray for the health and comfort

   of the sick and the dying... 

 

I pray that justice be done

    for those who are unfairly treated

and I pray for the poor,

   the homeless and the hungry... 

 

I pray for those whose lives are devastated

    by natural disasters

and for those who come to their aid

   so quickly and in so many ways...

 

I pray for victims of discrimination,

    for victims of human trafficking

        and for victims abuse and violence...

 

I pray for those who are anxious and afraid,

    for the heartbroken, sad and depressed

and for those whose hurt is hidden, secret,

    unknown perhaps to all except a few...

 

But there are some things Lord,

    that I don't pray for 

        - or don't pray for often enough... 

 

I don't pray often enough

    for the grace to accept

        the burdens, pain and disappointment

            that every life sustains...

 

I don't pray often enough

    for the grace to divest myself

        of the bounty of goods and services

            that are mine in such generous measure;

I don't pray to live, 

    I don't pray to learn to live,

        a simpler, plain, more modest existence 

    wherein I might come to know, love and serve

        you, Lord, and my neighbor

            with a simpler, purer, lighter heart...  

 

I don't pray often enough, Lord,

    to really let go

        the grudges and resentments I hang on to;

    to pardon and forgive those

        who have most deeply offended me;

    to open my heart and pray for those 

        who disagree with me,

        who annoy me and ignore me,

        who talk behind my back or make fun of me, 

        who forget or disappoint me... 

 

I don't pray often enough, Lord,

for the grace to pray more

and to pray nothing save 

    to know you better;

    to welcome you deeper into my heart;

    to surrender myself to whatever it is

        you call me to do, to say and to be...

 

Help me pray, Lord, 

    for the people and situations

        I find so hard to bring to prayer

    and help me pray for those

        who have no one 

            to pray for them...

 

Amen. 

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