2022-11-26 A Prayer: Strange Life

O Lord, cast us gently, but decisively, into our role as those who have supernatural courage amidst speaking from dire straits. Help us dwell near what is uncomfortable, what is offensive to our higher thoughts, what makes us decrepit and yes the very dregs of our world. See us desire to know Your thoughts from carrying that Cross, on which You bore our sins. See us wrestle, and jockey for the higher station, the upper places on the totem pole. But see us thrive in unimaginable ways, from the lower station.

Lord, where there is field white for the harvest, grant us no shame to take a boon, an advantage, and a gift. But also see us horrified and discomfited and pleading; see us useful to You, who healed via a Victim, who blessed via unconditional love, who assembled the brethren and sistren in the name of Love, not of strife nor of camping out with foot on the toes of our friends. See us no longer befuddled and manic, but able rightly to face all things in Your Name. See us know You the sufferer, who legitimized suffering, who made us servants and soldiers of a strange sacrament called Servanthood.

O Lord, do teach and bless and work in those plain and simple areas, to be an unthought out testimony, an accidental revelation, a Christian Deed most salient, towards all comers. Help us simply to listen to the air flowing overhead, and assess that yes this is Christian company, this is educated spirit, this is evangelized circle, this is apostolic Belonging. All belong. All thrive, spurting in growth from that original poise so hate filled and hard to stare down; we do try, but are carried through the valley of shadow and death, to be new creatures, to be those proud of the Love You show for us, to know, if nothing else, then one thing: that God is for us, and we are the Family of the Most High.

Help the travail, that no earthly parent can quite ameliorate for us. When parents cannot fix us, do show us personal leadership and anointing, to go forth Belonging and Proud in You. Where there is shared life together, then grant inner poise, calm, certainty, and effectiveness of Your Holy Words and Your ministry to us. Even amidst what is unthinkable.

We pray all this in Your Name, Amen.