1:00: Teach Us to Pray

1:00 PM

TEACH US TO PRAY

You told us to come to you

Those of us who are weary

from being broken

And are burdened with the weight

Of living in the time between

Fall and redemption

You promise rest

With a gentle voice

And a heart that is humble

Because the burden you give

In return for those we carry

Is not so much to bear

As it is lightened by you

Who stand at our side

And hold it up with us

In light of your unpretentious heart

Let our psalms, our songs, our soul-felt prayers

Never be without honesty

Taking you at your word,

That you are indeed gentle

And not ashamed to bend low

Your pure heart

Near to ours with their stains

Teach us then, with all candor

To pray like this;

Our Father who lives in Heaven

And whose very breath permeates

The created earth in which we dwell

You have a beautiful name

That you are not ashamed

To share with us

Let your goodness overflow from

Your throne in the sky

And fill the streets

in which we walk

Let your goodness overflow from

Your throne in the sky

And fill the streets

in which we walk

Give us what we need

For walking through this day

In a way which pleases you

And not more

Lest we forget

How much we are in your debt

But you do not hold us to

To the letter of the ledger

Nor force us to pay

That which we cannot earn

Help us then,

Not to collect

The debts of wrongs

Done to us by others

When we are tempted

To fall into the rutted paths of evil

So abundantly evident around us

Lead us instead away

From doing aberrant works

The earth is yours

Just as is Heaven

So help us to live

Like you own both

And help us to be low,

To be gentle,

To be filled with all humility

And just like you

To welcome those

Who like us

Are broken

Burdened

And weary