Poem: Waken in Me A Gratitude for My Life

O God, complete the work you have begun in me.

Release me through

a flow of mercy and gentleness that will bring

water where there is desert,

healing where there is hurt,

peace where there is violence,

beauty where there is ugliness,

justice where there is brokenness,

beginnings where there are dead-ends.

Waken in me

gratitude for my life,

love for every living thing,

joy in what is human and holy,

praise for you.

Renew my faith that you are God

beyond my grasp

but within my reach;

past my knowing

but within my searching;

disturber of the assured,

assurer of the disturbed;

destroyer of illusions,

creator of dreams;

source of silence and music,

sex and solitude,

light and darkness,

death and life.

O Keeper of Promises,

composer of grace,

grant me

glee in my blood,

prayer in my heart,

trust at my core,

songs for my journey,

and a sense of your kingdom.

-          From Guerillas of Grace by Ted Loder