Need to Breathe Deeply

13 Oct Need to Breathe Deeply

Last week I shared some reflections on prayer. To continue that theme, today I share with you a prayer from a beautiful collection of prayers entitled, Guerrillas of Grace, written by Ted Loder.

If you happen to feel harried or overwhelmed, I hope this prayer will minister to you as much as it ministers to me.

I Need to Breathe Deeply

Eternal Friend,

grant me an ease

to breathe deeply of this moment,

this light,

this miracle of now.

Beneath the din and fury

of great movements

and harsh news

and urgent crisis,

make me attentive still

to good news,

to small occasions,

and the grace of what is possible

for me to be,

to do,

to give,

to receive,

that I may miss neither my neighbor’s gift

nor my enemy’s need.

Precious Lord,

grant me

a sense of humor

that adds perspective to compassion,

gratitude

that adds persistence to courage,

quietness of spirit

that adds irrepressibility to hope,

openness of mind

that adds surprise to joy;

that with gladness of heart

I may link arm and aim

with the One who saw signs of your kingdom

in salt and yeast,

pearls and seeds,

travelers and tax collectors,

sowers and harlots,

foreigners and fishermen,

and who opens my eyes with these signs

and my ears with the summons

to follow to something more

of justice and joy.             Amen.

Praying that we will hear and follow Jesus’ Kingdom summons,

Michelle