Friday, September 19, 2008

The Holiness of a Normal Day

Posted by Terry McNichols

The following poem was on the front of my church bulletin shortly after I wrote up yesterday's post called "Normal Day." I think this prayer, by Robert James St. Clair, puts the normal day into perspective for me:

Lord God who reigns supreme over all people, in all lands, through all time and change, whose love does not vary with history, and whose power is not diminished by human recklessness, we ask you now to touch the ordinary things of life to make them sacred.

We are greatly challenged to high adventure in Christ. We are rallied to witness, preach, teach, travel, and be outstanding. We hear the summons but many cannot respond just now. Lord, there are children to dress, business to complete, bills to pay, letters to write, houses to clean, groceries to buy, neighbors to visit, and holidays to celebrate. The one question we persistently ask life is: Where did the time go?

We do not ask to escape our tasks, nor evade our vital obligations. We do ask you to lay your hand of holiness and blessing upon all the ordinary things we must do merely to stay alive and sane in urban life.

Provide us the assurance just now that in your eyes our work is indeed a divine work, and that we are called to do routine work with satisfaction and joy.

In the name of Christ we pray, Amen.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

That prayer is so good. We really can't escape the busy-ness of life and that prayer gives hope in the midst of it. Thanks, Terri.