Wednesday, November 18, 2020
One Day At a Time: A Prayer
O Lord, so many are saying that
all they can do
is just take it
one day
at a time,
so much uncertainty,
so much up in the air,
so much unknown,
not sure what tomorrow will bring,
not sure if tomorrow will even come,
the coronavirus,
political upheaval,
a diagnosis turning lives inside out,
upside down,
families coming apart at the seams,
the job no longer there,
loss and loneliness,
boredom beyond belief,
the fatigue of it all;
like riding a roller coaster some days,
a roller coaster of
despair and hope,
sadness and gladness,
frustration and anger,
a regular roller coaster of emotion;
and so
the best we can do
is just take it
one day
at a time,
get through
one day
at a time,
leaving tomorrow
to tomorrow.
O Lord, if this is us,
then help us
to do the best we can
with the day we have,
help us
to make it a day
not simply
to get through,
but a day
to be glad in,
to see it as the day you have made.
And so, help us, O Lord,
to begin
the day with
thankfulness,
to push back
the fears and worries and anxieties that
attack us like wild animals
the moment we wake up,
and give you
thanks
for bringing us through the night
to a new day;
thanks
for your grace and mercy that saves us
from one day to the next;
thanks
for just the beauty of a day,
a beauty that can lift us out of ourselves
if only we would let it;
thanks
for the love of others,
the loved faces
that make life
worth the living.
And help us
to go into the day
with faith,
the faith that holds fast to you
even when,
especially when,
everything is coming undone;
the faith
that trusts that you hold fast to us
even when,
especially when,
we can barely hold onto you;
the faith
that believes that we are held
day after day
in your love.
And throughout the day,
help us to keep
looking for and listening for
good news,
to take TV news in small doses,
to keep things in perspective,
to literally remind ourselves
of the goodness and decency
that is there in many,
to remember
the kindness we have known.
And if we feel
self pity
starting to consume us, or
depression
starting to shut us down, or
worry
starting to wear us out,
remind us of what others are going through,
and move us
to call someone, send a card to someone,
show kindness to someone,
force ourselves
out of ourselves.
And at the end of the day
to give thanks
once again
for your love and
the love of others
that has brought us through.
O Lord, it's been nine months and more
of the coronavirus driving our lives
and it will continue to for months to come.
Renew our weary spirits
and strengthen us
to keep doing
what we must
to help bring it to an end.
And let us not tire
of praying for
those who are battling the virus,
those caring for them,
those mourning the loss of someone to the virus,
those out of work and out of food,
those who desperately need a helping hand.
Heal, sustain, comfort, support and uphold them
and let us be a helping hand where we can
and push leaders to raise their hands
in support of relief for all who are hurting.
And let us not forget
those often forgotten
as they wander the streets
in search of hope and a home.
O Lord, as we close our eyes this night
on another day
and try to fall asleep,
cradle us
with the assurance
that you will be there tomorrow
and in your presence
we will be able
to take
the day
and whatever it brings
with the certainty
that
in your grace and mercy
all shall be well.
Amen.