2023-01-03 A Prayer: First Adoption

O Lord, where were You but in our hidden heart; bring to bear seasons in our life of lesser wisdom, seasons that inform us as wisdom informs us today; see us with sharp doctrine, and all the pragmatics that accompany such a dance with idea and with purity. Our intentions in You… are pure.

See us resolute about resuming that seasoned experience yet again: if I testify, I will be alone with my creed; I will alienate some; I will be laughed at; I will be patronized. See us accept being robbed, if it be a robbery of our gospel, first fruits, aspects, hints and inklings of that light breaking in. Breaking into a sermon or interview that, never alone or innocent, is reflecting the entire experience, is reflecting all things including miserly and nagging us. See us nag, rather, pester, rather, plead, for some preposterous Encounter. See us boast of a pure intention. See Your Spirit strengthen with bread for the journey.

We deduced this step and then that. All was a logical coup-de-grace. All was rational and based on observations and Scripture. Yet here we are. Again. In that strange milieu wherein we are satisfied, not with our brother or sister’s credulous conversation-making and nervous laughter, but in the rock-formed, tectonic-fortified, solid abode that still seems so puzzlingly alien to others.

Help us where we glimmer on a light source in Your abiding strength. Help us not obsess but simply dwell and act and participate, resolute and reassured nothing is taken but that it is given back. In all these things, make us fellow-traveler to a Light cohort, residing in blinding light, reaching down from the heavenly banquet, fortified and witness to all, including those destined for first adoption, and those patient for the last adoption.

We pray all this in Your Name, Amen.