A prayer…

A friend sent me this prayer today:

God, make me brave for life: oh, braver than this.
Let me straighten after pain, as a tree straightens after the rain,
Shining and lovely again.
God, make me brave for life; much braver than this.
As the blown grass lifts, let me rise
From sorrow with quiet eyes,
Knowing Thy way is wise.
God, make me brave, life brings
Such blinding things.
Help me to keep my sight;
Help me to see aright
That out of dark comes light.

~Author Unknown~

…and isn’t it such a beautiful prayer! In reality, we, me and you, are so incredibly weak and fragile…a broken cup which only the Lord can fill. In and of ourselves, we are nothing, oh absolutely nothing, and in recognising that, there is a tremendous freedom. 

I love the idea of “spiritual poverty”, ie recognising that we humbly come before God with nothing to offer, and empty hands, thus relying solely on God to meet our needs and to do anything that is of any use to Him. Like being a chipped and empty cup, which is only of value when filled with Him.  

 

I am more and more coming to terms with my nothingness, and recognising that of myself I am pretty much a useless being. Submitting to God from this point of view enables Him to then use me in the way He wants, rather than the way I want. Praying, reading Scripture, spending time loving Him and some element of penance in my life (something I really need to engage in again!) take me constantly back to this point…

Thank You Lord for making me a broken cup!