Evening Prayer
by Elouise
I’m weary this evening, Lord —
All I want is Your smile.
Daylight faded hours ago —
The choir sings to a congregation of one.
I jotted down these words last night while listening to an old hymn, “Abide with me; fast falls the eventide.” The end of a slow day, quiet and unimpressive with the exception of two encounters.
One was with a neighbor when I was out walking. She was standing on her front porch, waiting for a taxi. We talked about her recent illness, her cat, and the woman who died across the street and down the lane just last week.
Later during my walk I saw a couple I’ve known for years. They were out walking, too. About my age, both retired and in good shape with the exception of her fractured ankle and torn ligaments still on the mend months later.
I’ve been focused on prayer lately. Especially since my friend Margie died and left a huge void when it comes to prayer for others. My list grows daily. Not in leaps and bounds, but in small increments. Everyday people with difficult challenges and heartaches.
I haven’t figured out how to pray in a pointed way for the big stuff that hits the news every day. Not that I don’t know what to say. It’s more about not having a personal connection, or being so incensed that I don’t want to pray ‘for’ this or that. I just want to rage against it.
Perhaps things aren’t really worse than they used to be. In some ways, I’ve seen this country in worse shape than we’re in now. Yet in other ways we’re simply reverting to what I’d hoped we left behind. This, too, is a great weariness.
Maybe that’s where I need to begin. With things like the opioid crisis, the result of fraud on multiple levels over many years–perpetrated on people in chronic pain. People just like you and just like me. I wonder where in my neighborhood it’s making its mark today?
Β© Elouise Renich Fraser, 12 October 2017
Photo found at HopeLutheranChurch.wordpress.com
Daily Prompt: Fraud
things can be so overwhelming at times, I pray daily and keep on breathing through as best as I can, trusting in a higher power to gather and save. The opioid crisis is brutal, some days I can’t even watch the news, it’s funny how you brought that up, had just finished watching the prince football halftime show, he who died of and because of that crisis. It’s not a big world anymore it seems, getting smaller and smaller by the day especially when we feel connected to it in some way. Sighs and nods along with your words here.
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Yes, much to pray about, much closer to home than we think….
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We are evacuated from our home in Calistoga, so my prayers are focused on the assurance that no matter what happens we are safe and with people who love us. My prayers are with the many, many people who have lost their homes and livelihoods in fires, hurricanes, and floods. My focus is on giving myself compassion when I freak out and when I get impatient and giving those around me compassion when I get frustrated with them and giving all of us compassion because we all suffer in some way. Maybe these are prayers you can embrace without raging, although there are reasons to rage within these prayers too! ~Natalie
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Thank you, Natalie! Done. With and without rage. Feel free to update me anytime….ππ»
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One of my favorite prayers lately is a quiet, trusting, “Father help!”
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Thank you, Hannah. ππ»
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I just take it day by day. The past is a foundation to build upon. The future isn’t written yet. π Take care!
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Thanks for your comment, Juli. One day at a time….super important and not an easy walk. ππ»
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I think you made YOUR mark in your neighborhood today for sure. Kind and concerned words are so few these days. Iβm looking at my prayer list differently because of Margie too. She was a great influence and a dear sister. As a friend once said,β(Her) name is known in hellβ for her powerful life-changing prayers. Awesome! See you Sunday. Love, Mary Glyn
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Thanks, Mary. A big yes to your comments about Margie. Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday, too. π
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“Abide With Me” is my favourite hymn. And you’re right–the weariness is having to wade through the same old swamps we thought we had passed through. Some people still live in them, though, and haven’t moved forward. More of them voted last November, which is why the current government is playing. Only its play is hateful and deadly. Some days, when I am so weary, in pain, I just say: “Great Creator, Maker of all, into Thine hands. Thank you.” Take care of yourself.
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Pamela, Thank you for your comment. I think we’re sadly moving into an era that will bring even more weariness, and less visible reason to hope. Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems the direction is already set, and we’re up against times for which we’re ill-prepared. Your prayer is most appropriate.
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We are in a time of great change, and with change comes upheaval, which is not pleasant. In fact, it can seem quite ugly at times. But I see there is great hope, even with all the anger and hate, cruelty and murder. There is much light, too. It’s just that human eyes are mostly focused on the harmful chaos rather than the hope and ways to grow. There is hope, and opportunity, and light.
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Good words! Thanks so much, Pamela. I needed to hear them tonight. π
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