NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 8/26

I've been thinking, Lord,

    of all the things that won't matter,

        things that won't count,      

            when I come to the end of my life...

 

And the list begins with everything I own:

    my stuff and my toys

        and my "big ticket" items;    

    my collections of treasured collectables,

       my souvenirs, tchotchkes and trinkets;  

    my clothes and shoes 

        stuffed in my closets;

    the junk I've stored

        in my attic and basement; 

    my baubles and bangles

        and thingamajigs;     

    all my shelves of books 

        and files of papers

            and boxes full of I-don't-know-what...

     

None of all this will matter, Lord,

 none of all this will matter at all... 

     

And all the things I used to have

    but have broken or lost, forgotten or wasted?

None of all those will matter, Lord,

    none of those will matter at all...

     

And everything I wanted to have

    but didn't end up getting?

Well, all of that, Lord,

    is literally - immaterial... 

 

And the financials, Lord:

    the stocks and bonds and "securities,"

        my money making money

            for me to leave behind?

Well, that's where it will be:

    left behind...

 

So many things, Lord, 

    that matter so much to me today

        - won't matter at all in the end,

So what will be left?

Only three things, Lord:

    faith, hope and love

        - and the greatest of these is love... 

 

Love, Lord, only love will matter,   

    only love will survive, will last and endure:

the love I found, the love I gave,

    the love I took, the love I shared... 

 

Only love, Lord, your love:

    creating me, sustaining me,

        inspiring and forgiving me;

    your love to fill my emptiness,

        to heal, lift up and hold me;

     your love to call me home to love

        and leave all else behind;

    your love to be my path to peace

        with you, in love, forever...

 

Only three things matter, Lord,

    only three things last: 

the faith by which I know you,

    the hope in which I live

and the love that fills and heals my heart,

    now and ever more... 

 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen.

 

Because of the clear reference to 1 Corinthians 13:13 in my prayer, I searched for a musical setting for that scripture and came cross a composition new to me - one which masterfully presents the whole of Saint Paul's hymn to love...

The Greatest of These Is Love 

    by Alejandro Consolacion 

If a video doesn't appear below, click here!

 

 

 

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