An Evening Prayer on the Last Day of August

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“O God, I thank You for this day of life
for eyes to see the sky
for ears to hear the birds
for feet to walk amidst the trees
for hands to pick the flowers from the earth
for a sense of smell to breathe in the sweet
perfumes of nature
for a mind to think about and appreciate
the magic of everyday miracles
for a spirit to swell in joy at Your mighty presence
everywhere” (Marian Wright Edelman)

Thank you, God, that you woke me up this morning and gave me good health and a body capable of enjoying your creation in all of its splendors.

Thank you for another day or grace and forgiveness and peace and joy.

Thank you that You don’t treat me a I deserve or according to my manifold sins and weaknesses, for I could never then hope to even catch a glimpse of Your face.

But now I see it everywhere.

In the last blooms of the last flowers before the autumn chill sets in.

In the laughter of old friends gathered together.

In the gentle breeze that blows where and when it wills.

In Van Morrison singing about Tupelo Honey in the airwaves above my head.

In the pink remains of yet another artful sunset.

In my own contented and peaceful heart.

Thank you for being here with me and being everything I need in this moment.

“Dear Lord,
be good to me…
The sea is so wide
and my boat is so small.” (Irish Fisherman’s Prayer)

“Lord, I don’t ask for a faith
that would move yonder mountain.
I can take enough dynamite and move
it if it needs movin’. I pray, Lord,
for enough faith to move me” (Norman Allen).

The Great Ice Storm of 2013??? Not So Much

I keep hearing reports about all this severe weather coming, with ice, sleet, and the occasional Abominable Snowman headed this way. Already, schools are closing and people are buying bread, milk, candles, and lanterns in bulk.

I just went outside and it’s not even freezing. My car windshield looks clear and the streets likewise are wet but perfectly clear. No snowpocalypse  yet. According to weather.com, the temperature is not supposed to go below 33 for the next 18 hours. I think what we have here is one big dud.

I may have to eat these words in the morning when I wake up and everything is covered in ice. I’m okay with that, as long as I don’t have to drive in it.

I’ve seen the way Nashvillians drive in normal weather conditions. Add in snow and ice, and it’s best to stay indoors, preferably under the bed, until the bad weather passes. I count myself among the bad drivers. I’m not a good driver on icy roads. I get too panicky and too impatient– not usually a good combination.

I predict at least one good snow this year, but just not in the next 48 hours. What I predict is more light rain and mist and absolutely no trace of ice or snow. There. You heard it from me.

 

I Love the Winter Weather

My car windows were frosted over this morning. It was that cold.

Normally, I would have taken about two minutes to scrape off the ice, but I decided earlier this year to get rid of my window scraper because it was broken. A decision that in hindsight wasn’t the smartest one I’ve ever made.

So I drove to work with the windows frosted over and the defroster on high, hoping the ice would thaw before I ran into any real traffic. Not my most shining moment ever. And I made it safely with no incidents.

Winter is a good reminder of the spiritual life. At some point, all of us go into winter mode– a kind of season of waiting where there’s no outward change or growth. It seems like everything is dead and nothing will ever come back, but this is the season of preparation for the spring yet to come.

Sometimes, God puts us through seasons of waiting. Seasons of pruning and refining. The process can be painful and seem to last forever, but don’t lose heart. Your spring is coming.

And yes, I’m going to Advance Auto Parts and buy a window scraper. Soon.