There are so many things I take for granted, Lord:
things I seldom give a second thought to,
things I think I can always count on,
things I think will always be there for me
- until I realize, discover and find out -
things aren't as sure as I'd thought them to be,
as I'd wished and hoped, dreamed and prayed
expected, imagined and planned them to be...
Even the basic things, Lord,
things as fundamental as:
freedom
truth
tenderness
justice
humility
empathy
kindness
liberty
benevolence
integrity
generosity
gratitude
mercy
honor
fairness
compassion
virtue
honesty
common sense
common courtesy
common knowledge
common decency
More and more, Lord,
even the most simple, basic things
can't be taken for granted...
So, I'm left feeling lost,
disoriented and bewildered;
I'm set adrift feeling unsettled,
displaced and vulnerable;
I'm no longer sure
where the boundaries are
and if they keep me in or out...
I worry and I stress
over what might might happen next,
what might next befall me,
what more will I lose...
I question and I wonder
what I can do or say,
how will I make my way
from here to there,
from now to then,
from this day to the next,
from tomorrow to the future...
So I turn to you, Lord!
You're timeless
- you never change;
you're constant, faithful
and steadfast;
your justice, mercy and love
are enduring and eternal...
Remind me Lord, that I can trust you,
that I can be sure
of your love and your goodness,
that I can depend
on your faithful mercy,
that I can rely
on your wisdom, word and truth;
that I can count on your promise
to be with me, lead me and guide me,
in good times and bad,
through sorrow to joy,
from here to there,
from now to then,
from today to tomorrow,
and into a future that has no end...
Lead me, Lord,
from sin to grace
from lies to truth
from despair to hope
from war to peace
from inequity to justice
from subjection to freedom
from brutality to tenderness
from tears to laughter
from the distress to relief
from prejudice to acceptance
from fear to trust
from entitlement to gratitude
from iniquity to integrity
from heartbreak to happiness
from duress to liberty
from selfishness to sacrifice
from grief to joy
from foolishness to common sense
from rudeness to common courtesy
from ignorance to common knowledge
from vulgarity to common decency,
from here to there
from today to tomorrow
and from death to life
with you for ever...
Protect me, Lord, when I'm unsure,
watch over me night and day,
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace...
Amen.
There's a long intro to this evening's music
but the piece is not instrumental
and the lyrics are uplifting...
Prayer for Peace by Margaret Rizza
If a video doesn't appear below, click here!
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