prayer

For the last month, I've been sitting on the sidelines of suffering...

A friend's sister is struck down by an aneurysm deep in her brain. During the week's vigil at the hospital, her husband contracts the flu. Then one of her children. Her responsibilities at work must wait while she sits helpless, grieving, bewildered.

I started a new job recently, and it's got me at a flat run. For the past couple of years, I've worked from home, which means I could get my work done and still have time for errands, breaks and odd hours. Now, they expect me at work. Everyday. For the WHOLE day. I know what you're thinking--welcome to the real world, Laura. And it's not like I haven't done this before. It's just that I'd gotten spoiled in recent years.

Father, I just want you to know that this is it. I've officially given up the search for a man. From now on, I’m done with the whole thing, and I’ll just live for you. Come what may.

There, I’d said the magic words. I cracked my eyes open to see if a man had now dropped out of the sky. Nope. I went about my weeks looking high and low for that man that God was now going to put in my life because I was done with the dating thing. Nada.

But it worked for that other girl! She told me so.

Well, I’ve been reading my Book of Common Prayer, the official prayer book of the Anglican Church, and I came to the Great Litany. I thought that I would share it with you. In the midst of all the chaos and business that we will encounter today, let us keep our eyes on Christ and run the race that is before us with perseverance and endurance.

"I'm sorry God, but You don't know what I'm talking about."