2022-11-25 A Prayer: Personal Recognisance

O Lord, so acquaint us with a pensive mode, that, where so much is so easily taken for granted, we may observe and rightly acknowledge plain goodness and wealth, of many varieties. Help us with the crass and tasteless, to cultivate plain appreciation of Your gifts. Help us to dwell near to things easily taken for granted. Help us to see the substance, before the details; grant that we rightly fly Your flag over a cause humbled, plain-spoken, a living testament of the modest variety; make that our wealth.

And help us, who are so prone to excited haste or pensive delay, truly to see what peace and prosperity is near, if not owned, then near, as we look into responsible engagement: programs of study or career sensibility; where we would be suited up and made over; help us be reminded that we are to be meek, that we are humble, whether a flailing world out there recognize it or not. So prepare us for tomorrow, and in the process, grant enthusiasm today.

See heaven-sent manna that excites and prompts passionate discourse. See the little encouragements, or the grand sense in which all futures are positive, rich, and manifest: the sense in which we simply rest and believe, as You bring life to fruition.

We are overwhelmed with our wealth in You. We aim to be pragmatic and judicious: I have a world to share, whatever the perception from the assembly around us. Help us to be fortified and built up by Words, heaven-sent, manna, words. Help us to stare squarely at those things we so easily take for granted, the peace, the companionship, the sustenance, the curiosity indulged by You who keep us near and curious, interested and occupied.

All that, in the service of a Kingdom built not by Man but by Your utterly patient design. Your patience surmounts; it is passionate consumption; it destroys all that is crass and gauche, as we have holy attitude and opinions, holy taste for the plainspoken, poor-man’s wealth, and all things holy.

See that if there is any goodness in us, it be by Your prudent and judicious plan, not anything causing us, poor in faith, to boast. We boast in Your life, and Your death and Resurrection.

We pray all this in Your Name, Amen.