It is 20ish degrees outside in my South Texas City. The streets are covered in ice.
I wake up super early this morning to spend some time with God.
Family events, personal events, national events. All bitter sweet. Bitter because there is so much heartbreak. Sweet because, well, there is love mixed into all of it.
I have a new grand child. My heart is pierced with a painful love. I am so in love, yet family estrangements make it difficult for me to be a part of her life.
I think of all the children at work.. I wonder, how do I protect my students, my neighbors, my family? I research what legal safeguards are still in place.
I watch the political violence in Minneapolis.
I am mortified.
I simply cannot fathom any way/time/circumstance in which political violence against the vulnerable is considered acceptable. Yet I have seen this violence played out my entire life. In Timisoara, Romania as a child, in Los Angeles, CA, US in my twenties, all along our Southern Borders for the past decade and a half..
I wish, so very much, that we would learn from our mistakes in history.
I pray.
“Dear One (for this is how I refer to God in my prayer journals) What do I do with this? What is my part? How do I stay involved with a grandchild with whom I have no access? How do I cultivate unity in my family? In my neighborhood? How do I stay true to my social conscience and to you?”
I turn to Mathew 6:9-13 I read, and re-read the Lord’s prayer.
I ask..”How do I really walk this out?”
So here it is..my super personalized Lord’s Prayer. Paraphrased by…me.
Our father who art in heaven
Dear One in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Please reveal yourself to me and my family, so we may all draw closer in relationship to you, each other and the world around us.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Help me love my neighbor and welcome the stranger. Help me advocate for the vulnerable, act mercifully and walk humbly today.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Thank you for my literal “bread” of breakfast tacos this morning and my spiritual “bread” of life, love and laughter today.
Forgive us our trespasses
Please open my eyes to those I have hurt. Give me wisdom to ask for forgiveness and make amends.
As we forgive those who have trespassed against us
Please remove seeds of bitterness or resentment I have in my heart to those who continue to hurt me, intentionally or not. Help me in my unforgiveness.
Lead us not into temptation
Please keep me away from amazon… Please help me not to desire things, people or circumstances that are not for me. Help me accept and celebrate my life as it is right now.
Deliver us from evil
Please give me the wisdom and understanding to navigate malicious intent.
Amen.
I love you.
faithuntamed 