Call to Prayer - May 4, 2020

Author: The Rev. Elizabeth McCord

Published Date: 5/4/2020

In difficult and uncertain times, many of us find courage by leaning into our faith. Each week, I’ll invite any of you who wish to join me in spiritual reflection. I’ll provide a written prayer, but I hope each of you will use the words, rituals or practices most meaningful and authentic for you. Please contact me if you’d like to share specific prayer requests or just check in at chaplain@carrollu.edu. You and your loved ones are in my prayers every day.

This Week's Prayer

In writing about what she calls the three essential prayers—Help, Thanks, and Wow—author Annie Lamott reflects candidly about the struggle to be grateful during difficult times. The following prayer is a gratitude prayer that aligns with the breath. Take a slow, deep breath in between each line. See if slowing down can help create more space for thanksgiving in your heart and in your life.

Thank you, God,
       for this breath…
              and this breath…
                      and this breath…

Thank you for this moment:
       when I have breath…
       when I have life….
       when my heart beats…

Thank you for this body:
       the lungs that rise and fall…
       the shoulders that drop…
       the heart that opens…

Thank you for release:
       for hands that let go…
       for tears that fall…
       for a heart that aches with compassion…

Thank you for my humanness:
       remembering that I am limited…
       treasuring this moment because life is limited…
       listening for the Heartbeat of God,
                      Holy Love,
              that which is Unlimited…

Enable me to carry this gratitude:
       into my day…
       into my week…
       into the world…

And if my heart strays toward despair,
bring thankfulness back to me,
       with this breath…
              and this breath…
                      and this breath...

Amen

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